Eddie Howe entered the debate of balancing cup competitions as Newcastle United manager.
The Toon are trying to defend their Carabao Cup crown, qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time since the 2000s, and produce another competitive finish in the Premier League. It is a difficult task, but the manager wants the standards to stay high game to game.
“We're really enjoying it. I love the different focuses that those competitions bring, the different challenges. Really love this competition as I said earlier.
“So I think it's about loving preparing football matches and love the experience of managing. So from my perspective, it's fine. From the players perspective, I think they feel the same way. I think they've got in a good groove and rhythm of knowing that this season is just going to be about playing, then resting, and then preparing again for the next game.
“Very limited training, but the different focuses I think is a good thing and we want to stay in as many competitions as we can.
“I think it's a difficult one to prioritize games or to think that one's more important than the other. They all take equal importance and now the next game that's in our eye line that takes priority.
“The timing is unique. So, as you say, the FA Cup is staggered later on in the season. And I think depending on how your season's going, the feel of that competition is different. I think because this is so early in the season.
“There's a fresh energy to it, and you're just trying to you're trying to build momentum in your season in that moment. So, these rounds are important to boost everyone's feeling and energy as you enter the season. The FA Cup is something we want to do better in. We haven't done enough in recent seasons.”