Newcastle United defender Kieran Trippierplaceholder image
Newcastle United defender Kieran Trippier | Getty Images
Newcastle United welcome Barcelona to St James’ Park tonight for a mammoth last-16 clash.
Kieran Trippier has urged Newcastle United players to get “supporters off their seats” against Barcelona.
For half an hour at the weekend, the Magpies did exactly that to stun Manchester City. Harvey Barnes gave Newcastle an early lead and, in truth, the scoreline should have been wider.
But that momentum soon faded, with Pep Guardiola’s men steering their way to a comfortable FA Cup victory. The tasks do not get easier for Newcastle as the might of Barcelona arrive on Tyneside this evening.
NewcastleWorld's Champions League coverage is proudly sponsored by Howdens Blyth.placeholder image
NewcastleWorld's Champions League coverage is proudly sponsored by Howdens Blyth. | NewcastleWorld
‘No excuses’ - Kieran Trippier
Trippier insisted the congested fixture list is not an excuse for the Magpies - and called on his teammates to get the Geordie roar involved as they aim to stun Barca. He said: "There should be no excuses about the games or schedule. Throughout my career I have been in this situation many times, this is where you want to be as a footballer going into games against Barca and winning these types of occasions.
For Kitchens, Bedrooms & Joinery, visitHOWDENS BLYTH. Free Planning & Design Service, visitBLYTH DEPOT to get started.
"No matter who comes to town, Man City, Man United or Barcelona, we have to show that positive mindset. It gets supporters off their seats. For 30 minutes, we did that. But again no excuses we have to forget this, we have a huge game against Barca on Tuesday and we know we have to be up for it. We have to start well to get the fans into the game.”
Read More
Eddie Howe makes Barcelona claim
Following the FA Cup defeat to Man City, Howe described the Barcelona fixture as the biggest in Newcastle’s history. He told reporters: “My focus is really short-term and it's trying to win the game that's in front of me and that's Barcelona in the Champions League.
“I think we have to be, as much as it's easy to be very negative in this moment and I understand we've gone out of the FA Cup but we have the biggest game in the club's history coming up in no time at all.
“We've got to get the players ready for that. We've got no time to dwell on this. We’ve never been in this position in the Champions League before,” Howe said. “And it's the best competition there is. So I think for obvious reasons, I think it's a massive game in our history. And we need to approach it that way.
“We need the supporters to think that way. And we need to try and find some energy from somewhere that will elevate our performance to a level that we've not seen before this season. Because I think that's the only way we'll get through.”
Continue Reading