Eddie Howe exclusive: Newcastle boss sets European football as ‘minimum’ requirement after Champions League journey – Eurosport

Eddie Howe said he is “desperate for success” and claimed that European qualification is the minimum requirement as Newcastle United manager.

Howe is into his third term as Magpies boss, and qualified for the UEFA Champions League at the end of his first full season in 2023.

Newcastle acquired 71 points in the 2022/23 campaign, finishing four points clear of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool in fifth, and four points behind Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United in third.

Howe earmarked key signings as one of the main reasons for his side’s surprise top-four finish, with Alexander Isak, Nick Pope, Anthony Gordon, and Sven Botman amongst the arrivals that season.

Speaking exclusively to TNT Sports, Howe admitted that Newcastle reaching the Champions League in just his second season was “ahead of schedule”.

“I think it’s always difficult to judge these things, but it was way ahead of schedule,” he said.

“I think if you asked at the start of the season, no one would have really given us a chance to finish in the top four. But I think the signings we made in the summer were pivotal. Confidence grew, and we were able to do it and deservedly so.”

The Toon had quite the European adventure on their return to the continent’s top table, drawn in the ‘Group of Death’ against giants Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, and Borussia Dortmund, who went on to reach the final.

“It was amazing, and it all just went so quickly,” the former Bournemouth manager said.

“We look back on it as a historical game – how we played, what we delivered, what we were capable of.

“I think the frustration is that we want to get back there. Once you’ve tasted it, you want more of it. That’s great motivation for all of us.”

“From time to time, I will go back to the game because it was very tough,” Howe said of the 1-1 draw at the Parc des Princes.

“We were camped in our own half; we defended very well – heroically – and then it feels unjust. I thought we deserved to get a result.

“That’s the level we want to be at. We loved the experience of the Champions League, we loved the games, the travelling, the extra games.

“There was no part of us that didn’t want that. For everyone involved in those games, it made us more determined.”

Newcastle narrowly missed out on European football last season, finishing seventh, a position that would normally mean qualification for the UEFA Europa Conference League.

However, with United’s unexpected FA Cup final triumph, the eighth-placed Red Devils moved into the UEFA Europa League at Chelsea’s expense, with the Blues relegated to the Conference League and Newcastle kicked out of Europe completely.

Asked if European competition was the “minimum” remit for a club like Newcastle, Howe replied: “Yeah, I think so.

“I think the way that we missed out on Europe was especially frustrating. It wasn’t necessarily in our hands how we missed out.

“When I came here, I knew the responsibility of Newcastle United manager. It’s never been lost on me for a minute how important this role is for the city, and everyone connected with the club. I really enjoy it and wouldn’t change it for anything. I’m desperate for success.”

TNT Sports is available across all major TV platforms, offering a line-up of up to four TV channels (TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports 3, TNT Sports 4), and up to six digital or red-button channels (TNT Sports 5 to 10), and TNT Sports Ultimate plus TNT Sports Box Office HD.

Newcastle United v Arsenal will be live on TNT Sports 1 with coverage from 11:00 UK time on Saturday, November 2, ahead of kick-off at 12:30.