The scene has been set for potentially one of the biggest nights in Newcastle's modern history
Barcelona star Lamine Yamal ahead of their clash with Newcastle United(Image: Iain Buist/Chronicle Live)View 2 Images
If we were in any doubt about how big tomorrow's Champions League clash is between Newcastle United and Barcelona, they were eradicated on Monday evening.
The St James' Park press room was jampacked with reporters, not only from the usual Newcastle United press pack but with a huge amount of Catalan and Spanish journalists and camera operators making the journey over to Tyneside.
Eddie Howe said in the aftermath of Saturday's FA Cup defeat to Manchester City that the visit of Hansi Flick's side represented the biggest game in the club's history.
Some critics scoffed at such a claim less than a year after Howe guided Newcastle to their first domestic trophy success in the Carabao Cup final last year but in terms of the financial rewards at stake, as well as the opportunity to win through to the club's first ever Champions League quarter-final, he perhaps had a point.
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Howe is a considered customer when he fields media questions and with the mood dour after exiting the FA Cup on Saturday, it almost felt like a deliberate shot in the arm to his players with such a bold public declaration. A ploy to switch the mentality with such a quick turnaround for Tuesday's game so his side adopt an us against the world attitude that can fire them to glory.
Howe was bullish in his 15 minutes with the media and gave off the energy of a man who believes his team have worked so hard over his four years at the club to be able to seize this moment, on the Champions League stage, against the Spanish champions.
"We have to have that mentality (it is the biggest game in our recent history)," Howe said in his pre-match press conference.
"For me it is and that’s very much the mentality. We have to rise to the occasion and embrace size of the game. These are things that have helped us this season and we are looking for the same again.
"There’s only 16 teams left and we’re one of them. It’s an opportunity to grab a moment that we may never get again. You never know what life brings tomorrow, let alone future seasons. We don’t want to waste that opportunity. We don’t want to kick ourselves or think, 'What if?'.
"This is a moment for us to grab. In my time here, just over four years, we have worked to get to this point. As long as we perform to our maximum, I will accept the result. We want to try and get as close as we can to our very best."
The first test of whether his players shared that message was passed just minutes later. Newcastle left-back Lewis Hall took to the stage and was inevitably asked about whether he feared the challenge of facing Barcelona's biggest threat, right-winger Lamine Yamal.
Hall's response was unequivocal.
Newcastle United's Lewis Hall speaks to the media ahead of the Champions League clash with Barcelona(Image: Iain Buist/Newcastle Chronicle)View 2 Images
"If you go on to a pitch fearing or worrying about anything you are on the back foot," Hall said.
"I always go on with a positive mindset. Whenever I am playing, I know my own journey. My journey, personally, has been special. Tomorrow is a big opportunity for me and the team.
"He is a special talent and I have seen him in enough Champions League games to see what he is about. I want to test myself against the best players in the world so no better opportunity to do that than tomorrow."
And there is just a feeling it is an opportunity Newcastle could take.
Barcelona may be the reigning Spanish champions and head to Tyneside as La Liga leaders but it all isn't sunshine and roses in Catalonia.
They were beaten over two legs by Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey and the impending club elections have cast doubt over Flick's future as manager at Camp Nou.
Presidential candidate Victor Font has publicly declared he would replace Deco as the club's sporting director, whom Flick has a close relationship with.
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Flick took exception to answering questions about the elections on the eve of such a big game, and also tried to laugh off criticism of Barcelona's defensive record during his reign.
If there are any flickers of weakness, Newcastle must exploit them. The bullish attitude of Howe and Hall made give fresh optimism they are ready to do so.