Les Ferdinand knows that Newcastle United fans will make life hell for Barca on Champions League night
HOUNSLOW, ENGLAND - JUNE 20: QPR Director of Football Les Ferdinand talks to the press at the QPR Training Ground on June 20, 2022 in Hounslow, England. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
Former Newcastle United forward Les Ferdinand(Image: Getty)
Les Ferdinand reckons Barcelona's superstars could be in for a rough ride as Champions League football returns to St James' Park on Thursday night.
Memories of the 4-1 demolition of Paris St-Germain are still fresh on Tyneside when the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Achraf Hakimi and Ousmane Dembele jetted out of Newcastle with their ears ringing due to the constant din served up on a memorable European night in front of the Gallowgate End.
And with or without Lamine Yamal this week, Ferdinand feels that it could be another game to remember for the Toon Army.
Ferdinand told Chronicle Live: "Barcelona will not know what has hit them at St James' Park.
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"The Champions League brings with it some special nights, and this one will be right up there. We have had that little taste of the Champions League a couple of years ago, so that will help too, but the fans will be up for it."
Newcastle failed to qualify for the latter stages of the Champions League two years ago despite that flying start against PSG.
Two defeats to Borussia Dortmund and a controversial penalty award in Paris left Newcastle clinging on to qualification hopes before they were sunk 2-1 against AC Milan at home.
The ex-England star said: "I think maybe that the last time around, everybody got a little bit overawed by it being back in the Champions League for the first time for a lot of years.
"You can get yourself into a real high and then you come down with a real bang.
"But because that was just a few years ago, there will be a difference in the way the players approach it.
"They might not get caught up in the hype of what happened last time around."
Les Ferdinand in action for Newcastle United in 1995
Les Ferdinand in action for Newcastle United in 1995
Ferdinand was one of Kevin Keegan's most celebrated signings when he signed for the Magpies in 1995 and just missed out on the Premier League title a year later.
With a victory parade planned by Sir John Hall, the Magpies watched a 12-point lead fade away and ended up empty-handed.
But the club ensured that Ferdinand was a central part in their Carabao Cup celebrations last March when he was invited back to be involved in the official parade around the streets.
Ferdinand said: "There's still so much to be excited about at the club and the parade is something I'll never forget.
"I was blown away by it - 300,000 people on a field and on the streets to see the trophy after all those years.
"I was glad I lived it, seeing the streets lined and people in tears as the buses passed by, you realise what the club is.
"I said it at the time in 1996, you wished you would be one of the players that finally brought silverware to the club and we came ever so close. You wish that a trophy had been won ages ago, but to be there on that day was really special."