Eddie Howe was pleased with Newcastle United’s performance despite missing out on a top-eight spot after they held PSG to a 1-1 draw on Wednesday night.
The Magpies had needed a win to secure an automatic spot in the Round of 16, but will be take consolation in their impressive result against the European champions.
Despite their poor away record this season, the dug deep to pick a point against a tough side in their final UCL league-phase game of the season.
“There was a lot going on in that game we had to deal with, not just the opponents, who are an outstanding team, but the decisions that went against us as well, none more so than the handball. Deja vu for us, two years on. I couldn’t believe it”, Howe stated.
“I know Nick saved the penalty, but it created a feeling that contributed to the early stage of the game, where we were under pressure, and I thought the lads did really well to see that out.
“We grew into the game. We took 25 minutes, half-an-hour to really find our feet, and once we did, I thought we were really good for the rest of the game”, the Englishman added.
Nick Pope saved an early penalty kick from Ousmane Dembele, which had been awarded after a controversial handball decision against Lewis Miley.
However, the home side opened the scoresheet in the eighth minute through Vitinha.
Newcastle grabbed an equalizer in first half stoppage time through Joe Willock and missed the chance to win it late in the game when Harvey Barnes spurned a glorious opportunity.
“I thought we showed really good legs and athleticism because we needed to give them a threat the other way and I thought we grew stronger as the game went on, in that respect. Harvey’s chance at the end is probably our best chance to win the game.
“It was just really pleasing to see us go end-to-end, fitness-wise, after a really heavy schedule”, he concluded.
Newcastle finished in 12th place and will now go through the playoffs to qualify for the Round of 16.
The Magpies will face either Qarabag or As Monaco in the next round when the draws are conducted on Friday.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
