'We're a stronger team': Eddie Howe believes Newcastle United are in a much better place to compete in Champions League this season
Two years ago, Newcastle United returned to the Champions League after a 20-year absence, and while it was exciting, there was a tacit agreement amongst fans that this would just be a taster.
Eddie Howe had massively over-delivered with the squad he had at his disposal, and the club simply wasn't ready to be competing in Europe's elite competition so quickly after the takeover. Reaching the Champions League was always the plan, but even the most ambitious of people behind the scenes didn't expect it to come so soon.
Fans were realistic heading into the competition, especially when the Magpies were drawn in the 'Group of Death'. It was just going to be a case of enjoying the ride and seeing if we could surprise anyone.
Which, of course, we did. Beating Paris Saint-Germain 4-1 at St James' Park, and then crashing out of the competition purely because of a controversial penalty decision. Eddie Howe's overachievers almost did it again.
Eddie Howe believes Newcastle are far stronger and better equipped to compete in the Champions League
Newcastle are in Champions League action on Thursday night when Barcelona come to St. James' Park, and this time there's a feeling that Newcastle are ready to take this competition seriously.
The Magpies recruited well in the summer; they have a stronger squad and are much better equipped to take on the challenge. Once again, the draw hasn't been kind, but to be the best, you have to beat the best, and Eddie Howe told NUFC TV after the Wolves win on Saturday, that they are prepared this time.
"I think off the back of today, it's pure excitement [the feeling going into Barcelona]. We want to deliver a really good performance, we want to learn from two years ago in the Champions League and all the things that we needed to put to use.
"I think we're a stronger team than we were two years ago, I think we've got much more experience through the group and hopefully that will show."
Newcastle love being the underdog
A lack of Champions League experience was one thing holding Newcastle back last time, but their biggest issue was a lack of squad depth.
Both of those things have now been rectified. While Newcastle didn't recruit players with a wealth of Champions League experience, they did recruit players with plenty of international know-how, plus they still retain a lot of players who were part of the squad two years ago.
We have some really tricky games in the Champions League to come up, none more so than Thursday's test, but Newcastle thrive on being the underdog.
