Eddie Howe admits the Catalans were far better than his team but was still happy with what his players accomplished
It could potentially have been the greatest night so far in his managerial career, had Newcastle managed a famous win at Camp Nou, but instead Eddie Howe watched his side get demolished by Barcelona in a second-half onslaught.
Barcelona opened the scoring very early through Raphinha and Newcastle brilliantly responded through Anthony Elanga in an all-attack, no-holds-barred game of football. The Catalans went ahead again through Marc Bernal but Newcastle soon restored parity, Elanga securing a brace.
However, a stoppage-time penalty converted by Lamine Yamal ensured Barcelona would head into the break in the lead, before the La Liga side then tore Howe’s team apart with three goals within 16 minutes of the restart. It was 6-2 shortly after the hour and then Raphinha bookended the goalfest on minute 72 to make it 7-2.
“Two different 45 minutes, two totally different feelings I think,” Howe said after the drubbing. “First half I thought we were outstanding, a great representation of how we want to play; albeit we didn’t defend well enough, even in that half.
“First goal I think two people [Malick Thiaw and Lewis Hall] slipped. Second goal was quite a standard free kick we don’t deal with. Third goal was of course the key moment in the game. As well as we played, we conceded three goals.
“We did well in that half but it seemed as though every miniature mistake ended up costing us. And I think that was the standard of game that that was. It was a really high-level game.”
Howe’s team were thoroughly outclassed in the second half but he felt that the late penalty may have affected his players mentally.
“In the second half we didn’t psychologically recover, probably from conceding the goal from the set-play,” Howe said.
However, Newcastle’s boss was still pleased with what his side managed over the two legs against one of the strongest teams in Europe.
“Overall I feel a pride in the players,” Howe said. “I feel a pride in our performance, pride in how we tried to attack the game. Ultimately they were better than us and we have to accept that.”
