Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has made it clear that the prospect of playing in the Europa League next season is unthinkable going into the clash with Everton today.
The point was made to Howe in his Press conference that competing in the Europa League would arguably give Newcastle a better chance of silverware next season than the Champions League. But Howe did not agree and while Tottenham Hotspur will earn £21million for winning the competition this season, Arsenal's run to the semi-finals was worth £38m for the Gunners.
Howe, speaking ahead of the game against the Toffees, only has his sights on one goal, and said: "I don’t want to come across as negative towards the Europa League because it’s a great competition. You’ve seen in the last few days what impact it can have on respective clubs. And that is not to be devalued at all.
"But I think when you have a competition (like CL) which we’ve been in not so long ago, and you saw the emotion it brought and the quality of games we had, the experience was second to none. That is naturally where we want to be."
Howe said he will watch the final of the Champions League at the end of the month when Paris St-Germain take on Inter Milan in Munich. Newcastle beat PSG 4-1 only last season and Howe's appetite for the competition has been whetted.
He said: "Watching the games from the outside is different to being involved in it. Watching the games this year brings back memories of our own experiences and how much we’d like to get back there and devour those moments again and some of the stadiums we played at and the atmospheres we were involved in and the nearly moments where we could have achieved so much more.
“Yeah, I have watched. I have enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to the final and we’d love to be back there.
"Football changes so quickly. You look at the PSG team that we played to the team now. You see the growth in that team and it’s been great to see. They’re one of my favourite teams to watch in world football at the moment.
"Of course, we’d love to stay with that level because that level improves your own players, there’s no doubt. It improves your own team and your ability to do well in your respective domestic competitions so the prize is a big one.
"Again, going back to it, that’s a good question because it’s all football related. That’s where my thoughts are."