Newcastle United secured qualification for the Champions League with a goalless draw against Leicester City on Monday night. With one game left before the end of the season, the “Magpies” can no longer be pushed out of the top four in the Premier League and are returning to international business for the first time in ten years. The lead over fifth-placed Liverpool FC, who could now at most overtake Manchester United, is four points.
The table before the season finale at a glance
Since the 12th day of play, coach Eddie Howe’s team had established themselves in the places that entitle them to participate in the “premier class”. For the club with the sixth-highest transfer spend in the English top flight this season, it is their first qualification for international football since the 2012/13 season, when they started in the Europa League and lost to Benfica in the quarter-finals. The last participation in the Champions League was 21 years ago and dates from the 2002/03 season. The coach, who took over the club in November 2021 from a relegation zone, was also surprised by United’s rapid sporting development after winning the point against the “Foxes”.
The Newcastle squad for the 2023/24 season
“It feels great. It’s an amazing achievement to get from where we came to here. It’s emotional. I am very proud of everyone associated with the club. We didn’t have that in mind at the beginning of the season. We had just escaped relegation and were hoping to grow and compete for Europe in a couple of seasons, so I can’t compliment the players enough,” said the 45-year-old, who became the first Newcastle coach since Sir Bobby Robson is who led the club to the Champions League.
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“I don’t know how I’m going to celebrate but I hope it won’t be with tea and biscuits. The Champions League is the best competition ever, getting there is something very special. Although I’m not emotional on the outside, I am on the inside. It’s great to be part of something very special that will hopefully be talked about for years to come. It’s been a fantastic season,” Howe continued.
Leicester City, on the other hand, no longer has relegation in the Premier League in their own hands due to the draw at Tyneside. The table-18. need to win against West Ham United on the last day of the game and hope for a blunder by Everton FC against AFC Bournemouth.
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2023-05-23 07:23:00
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