Eddie Howe had one job, just one! Keep Newcastle in the Premier League and he went ahead to book a place in the Champions League. Phenomenal.
A point against Leicester City in the penultimate game of the season was enough to secure a Champions League spot for Howe’s men. The draw also takes the Magpies four points clear of Liverpool with a game in hand.
The Magpies were sitting not so pretty in 19th place, looking relegation right in the eye when Eddie Howe took charge 18 months ago and the ex-Bournemouth manager has flipped the switch entirely.
The last time the Magpies qualified for the UCL was 20 years ago in the 2002-2023 season with Alan Shearer as Captain.
Eddie Howe instilled a relentless and willful spirit in the team which was obvious every time they took on an opponent, pressing high up the pitch, defending and attacking with everything in them and at the end of the season it was all worth it.
Howe has been able to assemble his team around the strengths of his players and how they can complete each other, he has brought out the best in the players, transforming the attack with Newcastle’s player of the season Kieran Trippier, Almiron and Bruno Guimaraes.
The atmosphere at the St. James’ Park against Leicester City on Monday night was electric as should be.
“If you’re not united with the supporters base, I don’t think it’s going to work.” said Eddie Howe in a post-match interview with Sky Sports
He added that “It certainly wasn’t top four (our target at the start of the season). I think you always hope, you always believe and you have to dream.”
Also speaking to Sky Sports Newcastle midfielder, Sean Longstaff said “I can’t put it into words, to be honest. If you told us two years ago this was going to happen, we wouldn’t have believed you,”
That statement alone shows the level of transformation that has gone on in the team.
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