The Magpies take on a Benfica side who are yet to win a point in the Champions League this season
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe arrives ahead of their game away at Brighton
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe arrives ahead of their game away at Brighton
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Eddie Howe has laughed off any prospect of Jose Mourinho parking the bus at St James' Park in the Champions League tonight.
'The Special One' brings his Benfica side to Tyneside without a point on the board in the competition and their last Liga Portugal game ended in a 0-0 stalemate with Mourinho's team managing just one shot on target as they sat back.
Mourinho takes on a Newcastle side sitting in the bottom half of the Premier League table with Europe looked at as an escape for the Magpies this term after an unconvincing start.
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Howe told Chronicle Live at St James Park last night: "I don't like the phrase 'park the bus' to be honest. It was not a 'park the bus' performance, it was a disciplined performance but they were an attacking threat as well.
"Especially in the second half. Regardless of what tactical plan they deliver I think they will have attacking threats. And ones that we are going to have to deal with very well."
Despite Benfica's own struggles this season, leading to Bruno Lage being fired and replaced by the ex-Chelsea boss, Howe still sees Benfica as a major threat.
The Toon boss knows it will be a tough night, whatever way Benfica choose to set up.
Howe said: "We are under no illusions. Tactically it will be an interesting game. It will be a difficult challenge for us but one we hope we can rise to."
Howe hailed the arrival of Mourinho at St James' Park ahead of the game and insisted he is one of the all-time greats in the dugout.
He said of the former Chelsea chief: "I think you have to say he is (one of the all-time greats). Look what he did.
"I’m not just saying that because we are playing them, I genuinely believe it the impact he made initially was incredible really. He had an aura around him and his teams. His teams were always very difficult to beat.
"I remember watching his teams in my very early days as a head coach, when I was looking to mould the way I wanted to play and what I was thinking about coaching wise, he had a big impact."
Howe beat Mourinho 1-0 at Stamford Bridge during his Bournemouth days and still savours that result to this day.
He said: "Any Premier League win is savoured regardless of where you are. It's so difficult to do it in the Premier League and especially at that stage of my career.
"Chelsea were one of the strongest teams in the league and there were some great wins for us that at the time, being Bournemouth manager, gave us the belief that we could compete in the Premier League.
"Being a newly-promoted team, you need every shot of confidence you can get. I look back fondly on those games. But obviously this game is very different. It's a different kind of experience.
"We now – I said this before the previous Champions League game – we're desperate to qualify in the competition."