NEWCASTLE UNITED will head into Wednesday’s Champions League home game against Paris St Germain in the best mood possible, according to their head coach Eddie Howe.
St James’ Park will stage a Champions League fixture for the first time in more than 20 years as the reigning Ligue 1 champions head to Gallowgate this week.
Whereas Paris St Germain warmed up for the game with a disappointing goalless draw against Clermont yesterday, Newcastle will be tackling their second Champions League group game off the back of their best week of the season so far.
A Carabao Cup win over reigning Premier League champions Manchester City sandwiched league victories over Sheffield United and Burnley, with the Magpies keeping clean sheets in all three of those games.
Howe said: “I think if we can go into any of these Champions League games that we face in confident mood and good form and rhythm, then it gives us the best chance of being successful.
“We want to carry that as long as we can. I think we’re in a good moment. Defensively, we’re very good, and we look like we can score, we should have scored more (against Burnley). I think the mood is very strong.”
Newcastle ultimately ran out comfortable winners against Burnley, with Miguel Almiron’s first-half strike opening the scoring before Alexander Isak’s second-half penalty made things safe.
The Clarets were not really able to lay a glove on their opponents, although Howe insists his side’s victory was not quite as straightforward as it might have seemed.
He said: “There’s no such thing as a regulation win. It was a tough game. We anticipated a tough game, I think Burnley are a really interesting team. I think Vincent (Kompany) has done a great job.
“We knew we had to be really good because they play a very open style, but it’s a dangerous style if you’re not perfect on your press or with whatever your game plan is.
“You have to deliver your game plan well, and I thought we did, probably after the first ten minutes when we were a little bit slow out of the blocks. I thought we recovered really well, and I thought we deserved to win.”
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