Newcastle coach Eddie Howe warned that Wednesday’s decisive Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain will be the “ultimate test” of his side’s ability after their pre-match preparations were disrupted by stormy weather.
“They are a team we really admire, especially the style — they are quite unique in the way they play, athletic players in every position, technically very good, tactically very interesting,” Howe told reporters in Paris on Tuesday.
“It is the ultimate test for me in Europe. This will be, I think, the hardest game we could have played, so we have to rise to the occasion and be at our very best.”
PSG and Newcastle come into the game at the Parc des Princes in sixth and seventh place respectively in the 36-team Champions League standings, level on 13 points.
Whoever wins will be guaranteed a top-eight finish, which grants direct qualification for the last 16. However, a draw could knock both sides out of the top eight, depending on results elsewhere — the nine sides directly beneath them in the table are all within two points.
That would leave them facing an extra two-legged play-off round next month, which is what PSG came through last season before going on to win the title in style, beating several English sides along the way.
Newcastle lost in Marseille on their last trip to France in November, but they have happy memories of playing PSG — the teams met in the group stage in the 2023/24 season, with the Magpies winning 4-1 at home and only having to settle for a 1-1 draw in France after conceding a late penalty.
“That was a really great night for us because it was a great test of our development. I think the experiences we had two years ago definitely helped us for this time around,” said Howe.
“We have gone in with higher self-esteem, to first attack the competition and try to get through to the knockout stage. We are on our way to doing that.”
Howe’s media duties were held up by an hour after the Newcastle squad’s departure from the north-east of England was delayed because of stormy weather.
“The journey over was fine, it was just the wait before. We were on the tarmac but the winds were too high for us to take off,” Howe said. “Thankfully we got here today.”
Newcastle come into the game having won just two of their last 10 away matches in all competitions, and will be without Brazilian midfielder Joelinton for the match, while his compatriot Bruno Guimaraes is a doubt.
“Joe definitely won’t make the game. He has had a scan and we don’t think it’s a bad injury but he will possibly be out for a few weeks,” Howe said.
“He will miss a few games because we have so many fixtures. Our other Brazilian is with us and we will know more in a few hours.”
