Eddie Howe asserted that Newcastle must adopt a mindset of being up against the odds, particularly in the wake of an unfortunate VAR decision against Paris Saint-Germain.
In a determined tone during his pre-match press conference, Howe criticised the perceived injustice of a VAR call penalising Tino Livramento for handball when a cross from Ousmane Dembele made contact with his elbow via his torso.
The subsequent penalty, dispatched by Kylian Mbappe, resulted in an equalizer for PSG.
Looking ahead to their Premier League encounter against Manchester United at St James’ Park on Saturday, Howe issued a rallying cry to both the Newcastle players and fans.
The manager emphasised the need for resilience in the face of adversity, framing the situation as a collective challenge that requires unity and determination from the entire team and its supporters.
Howe said: “We have to try and use it as motivation. I don’t know if that feeling has to be injustice, but if that helps certain players reach their full potential for this game, I’m all for that. I always want the sense that we are against everybody outside of Newcastle.
“That helps us. It’s a good mentality to have, that we are competing against everybody else. It has certainly served us well to this point so if it helps the players, great. I don’t think I had to develop [that attitude] strategically. I think it has happened [naturally].”
In the aftermath of their Champions League misfortune, Eddie Howe has once again endeavoured to rally his team and its supporters, urging them to adopt a siege mentality.
It is important to acknowledge that, despite their recent challenges, Howe’s side has experienced favourable refereeing decisions in the Premier League this season, notably against Wolves and Arsenal.
Looking forward to their upcoming clash against Manchester United, both teams aim to put aside the disappointments of midweek Champions League encounters.
Newcastle, currently one point behind their opponents, aspires for a performance reminiscent of their earlier 3-0 victory at Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup.
The match holds the promise of an intense battle as both sides seek to rebound from recent setbacks and secure a positive result in the Premier League.