Newcastle supervisor Eddie Howe believes his facet’s big Champions League win over Qarabag can act as a reminder of the extent they’re able to reaching.
The Magpies produced a dominant show in Baku, thrashing the Azerbaijani champions 6-1 to take a commanding benefit into subsequent week’s second leg at St James’ Park.
Both Barcelona or Chelsea await the winners within the subsequent spherical.
Newcastle raced right into a 5-0 lead by half-time, overwhelming their hosts in one in every of their most full European performances lately.
Talking afterwards, Howe mentioned the end result ought to reinforce perception contained in the dressing room that this group of gamers can compete with the perfect.
“My hope is that it simply re-affirms our perception that we may be an excellent workforce.
“Once we’re at our best, we generally is a match for anyone. I’ve at all times maintained this season that we may be, it’s in fact discovering this degree as a lot as we are able to, as constantly as we are able to.
“I feel you might see the extraordinary focus from the gamers was there from very early within the sport after which we’ve bought the standard once we’re in that sort of temper.
“It’s a extremely helpful time for us to supply a show like this to hopefully simply inform ourselves that we generally is a prime workforce once more.”
Anthony Gordon was the star of the evening, scoring 4 instances. The ahead had by no means beforehand registered a senior hat-trick however left the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium together with his Champions League tally for the season as much as 10 targets, surpassing the nice Alan Shearer’s membership document within the competitors.
Additional targets from Malick Thiaw and substitute Jacob Murphy accomplished the rout, whereas Elvin Jafarguliyev scored a late comfort for Qarabag, which is more likely to matter little for the return journey to the North-East of England.
Regardless of his outstanding private achievement, Gordon centered on the collective efficiency.
“The data are good, in fact, however soccer is in regards to the workforce. Particular person moments solely matter if the workforce succeeds and tonight, that was crucial factor.
“I’m very proud, not simply of myself, however of everybody concerned. It’s by no means simple to come back right here, so I’m actually comfortable for the entire group.”
There was a quick on-field disagreement earlier than one in every of Newcastle’s penalties, with captain Kieran Trippier additionally eager to take accountability, however Howe dismissed any suggestion of an issue.
“Anthony naturally needed to take the second penalty and I perceive why there’s a debate over it typically. That’s not clear when there are two in a single sport. However he took each penalties fantastically and I’m happy with that.
“Kieran’s solely ever attempting to assist the workforce, so I feel it’s a optimistic scenario moderately than adverse.”
Newcastle will nonetheless method the return leg with nice care, significantly with Thiaw suspended after accumulating a 3rd reserving of the marketing campaign.
“Sure, we’ve had sport at the moment, however we take nothing without any consideration within the second leg”, Howe added.
Issues don’t decelerate for the Magpies, who journey to the Etihad to face Manchester Metropolis on the weekend.
