MY ACCOUNT
Eddie Howe had no issue with Newcastle United co-owner Amanda Staveley promising the club would win the Champions League, although he hopes they will have patience with him along the way.
Newcastle played their first major final in 24 years on Sunday but were beaten 2-0 by Manchester United in the EFL Cup showpiece at Wembley.
Staveley’s response was a strong one, inspired by the experience of the defeat as she told talkSPORT: “We will win the Carabao Cup, we will win the FA Cup, we will win the Champions League, and we will win the Premier League.”
Those comments were relayed to Howe on Friday ahead of a trip to Manchester City, where Newcastle will attempt to get their Premier League campaign back on track.
“I love Amanda’s positivity, I love her outlook,” Howe said. “I’ve got no issue with the statements.
“All I’d say is, from my perspective, there’s no time limit on that. If we set targets that are maybe too short-term, that can have a negative effect and build external pressure that the players don’t need.
“We want the players to play free and not really think too much about the consequences. It’s my job to take the pressure off them, so that’s what I’ll try to do.”
Newcastle were in a relegation battle last season but now sit fifth even after a four-match winless run in the top flight, with Champions League qualification still in their hands.
“The leap is harder, and time is something that is a very small commodity, really, when you’re sat in my shoes here,” Howe added.
“Lowering expectation and controlling that environment is so important.
“I don’t think we created a problem for ourselves, but the speed with which the team has improved has been so quick that I think people naturally assume that will continue. If it was that easy… it’s not that easy.
“So, to continue on a forward trajectory is harder and harder. The better you get, the harder it is to get better.
“We have big challenges ahead, and we need to be smart at what we do. My work will be judged on that evolution of the team.”
