Club history was made on Tuesday night as we made the last 16 of the Champions League for the first time, thanks to our 3-2 (9-3 on aggregate) win over Qarabag.
Goals from Joelinton and Sandro Tonali inside the opening six minutes, plus a bullet header from Sven Botman, were enough for the win on a night that saw us go through the motions for much of it after a fast start.
Now all eyes will be on Friday’s draw, as we find out who we’ll be facing in next month’s last 16: Barcelona or Chelsea.
Here’s what Eddie Howe had to say after the game at St James’ Park, touching on the performance, progressing through, Wor Flags’ banner, Nick Woltemade’s display and Joelinton’s anger at coming off early!
On the performance
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In 99% of cases, a team winning by six goals on aggregate and scoring nine in total should be something to be celebrated.
In the main, the 9-3 win has been. However, questions will be asked about our defensive frailties in a scrappy second half display, with Howe accepting it wasn’t a great performance.
> _“Not a great performance, but pleased that we won. The problem we maybe had was going 2-0 up so early. I don’t think we showed the urgency we needed to get more goals. The game became too transitional in the second half.”_
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> _Howe highlighted that Qarabag still posed a big issue for much of our gameplan, and the Azerbaijan champions were very effective in neutralising one star in particular._
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> _“That’s the least Nick (Woltemade) has affected the game in the time he’s played in midfield. There were some really good bits in that, but there was limited space. It’s a new challenge for him and something he has to overcome._
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> _“We want him to score goals and don’t want him too far away from goal. We struggled to break them down after going 2-0 up.”_
On making the last 16 for the first time
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It’s official. For the first time in the Champions League era, we’ve made the knockout stage of the competition proper. And there’s the mouthwatering prospect of either a very winnable tie against Chelsea, or a chance at revenge against Barcelona potentially on the horizon.
> _“A massive achievement to get to the last 16. Nothing has been given to us – I love the new format, it’s a really good thing. We’ve really enjoyed it and we’ve navigated the double header well. I don’t care who you play, it’s a tough draw._
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> _“There will be a positive feel whoever we get in the last 16. I believe we can raise our game and compete with anyone. We’ve seen the best of ourselves in cup games this season._
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> _“The Champions League is an amazing thing for us. It’s a massive thing to give our season an extra boost. We will attack everything and try to do our best. I believe we can raise our game and compete with anyone.”_
A message to supportive fans
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Before the game, Wor Flags returned with a tifo designed to promote unity amidst all the recent rollercoaster results and performances, with a giant display of Howe showcased in the crowd.
> _“That means an incredible amount to me. I’m sorry I missed it…big thank you to everyone that thought of that idea and it’s much appreciated._
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> _“The love that supporters give me and the team means everything.”_
On Joelinton’s public frustration
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Joelinton has had a frustrating few weeks as he’s battled back from injury. And whilst he managed to get himself on the scoresheet tonight, the big Brazilian was visibly frustrated to be subbed off early in the second half.
Whilst Howe will no doubt have been careful to manage the star’s minutes so soon after his return, the key reason behind his substitution may have been as much about him being one yellow card away from a Champions League ban?!
> _“Yeah, Joey always plays with that passion. I think that’s what makes him the player that he is, you know, from my side, I’m trying to protect him and make sure we’re able to use him in the next game. He’s had very limited game-time. He’s such an important player. We need to keep him fit._
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> _“So there was method behind what I was trying to do with him as the same as Sven Botman, to try and keep these key players fit who haven’t had a lot of football._
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> _“So we need to build the robustness up. But I love the fact that he doesn’t want to come off, that was sort of him in a nutshell where he’s very passionate and wants to be well.”_