Head coach Eddie Howe has called on Newcastle United to make history as they face Barcelona in the Champions League last-16 first leg at St James’ Park on Tuesday night.
Howe draws inspiration from Newcastle’s famous 3-2 victory over Barcelona in 1997, when Tino Asprilla scored a hat-trick, assisted by Keith Gillespie.
“You want people in future years to be talking about this team,” Howe said. “Tino gets the hat-trick, a couple from Keith Gillespie’s deliveries on the right. I want our players to be talked about the same way in 20, 30, 40 years.”
Turning Past Defeat Into Motivation
The sides met in September during the league phase, with Barcelona winning 2-1 at St James’ Park. Howe sees that loss as a learning opportunity.
“This is the biggest game in our recent history,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to grab a moment we may never get again. We don’t want to waste it or think, ‘What if?’”
The manager emphasized that this Champions League tie could define Newcastle’s legacy and give fans a night to remember for generations.
