Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has challenged his squad to replicate their impressive Champions League performance in upcoming domestic fixtures, emphasizing the need for consistency following their resounding 3-0 victory over Benfica. The win at St. James' Park provided a welcome boost after a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Brighton in the Premier League.
Howe acknowledged the significance of the Benfica result, especially considering the pressure the team was under after the weekend's setback. "That's why the win and the way that we won was really pleasing, and hopefully we can take that into our next few games because we're going to need to back it up," he stated. He stressed that a single good result in the Champions League is insufficient and that the focus must immediately shift to maintaining that level of performance.
Newcastle's upcoming schedule includes a Premier League home game against Fulham, followed by a Carabao Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur and a Premier League away match against West Ham United. Howe is keen to see his team carry their European form into these matches.
Against Benfica, Anthony Gordon opened the scoring in the first half, with Harvey Barnes coming off the bench to score twice in the second half. Nick Pope also contributed with an assist, launching a long throw that led to Barnes' first goal. Howe highlighted the importance of maintaining their attacking and defensive intensity. He also acknowledged Benfica's attacking threats, emphasizing the need for his team to manage and defend well.
Newcastle's form has been inconsistent this season. Before the Benfica game, they were in 14th place in the Premier League with eight points. In the Champions League, they had previously defeated Union Saint-Gilloise 4-0 and lost 2-1 to Barcelona. The win against Benfica moved them up to eighth place in the Champions League standings.
Howe has expressed admiration for Benfica's manager, Jose Mourinho, calling him a "visionary" and someone who "broke the mold" in management. He acknowledged the tactical challenge Mourinho's teams present and the opportunity for his club to compete against him.
Newcastle has added players to their squad, and Howe believes they have the right balance between new additions and maintaining their identity. He recognizes that losing key players requires finding new ways of doing things and adjusting to the new players.
Looking ahead, Newcastle's next Champions League match is against Athletic Club on November 5th. They also have Premier League games against Fulham (October 25th), West Ham (November 2nd) and Brentford (November 9th), as well as a Carabao Cup match against Tottenham Hotspur (October 29th).
