Eddie Howe Calls for Early Wins as Newcastle Faces Union Saint-Gilloise

Newcastle upon Tyne, England — Eddie Howe believes his team, Newcastle United, can be competitive in this Champions League season, but he insists they need to secure some early victories. The Magpies suffered a 1-2 defeat against Barcelona in their opening match, where Marcus Rashford scored twice, and now face Union Saint-Gilloise in their second game.

Union Saint-Gilloise made headlines with a 3-1 win against PSV in their first Champions League match. Historically, no Belgian team has lost its first home game in either the European Cup or Champions League in the last six attempts, with three wins and three draws.

Howe expressed confidence that his team can compete against Europe’s elite, but he urged them to collect points as soon as possible. “In the first game against Barcelona, we felt we played well, but it was a disappointing result,” said Howe. “I think we are competitive. We are enjoying the build-up and getting used to it. Nothing will surprise us. I think this can only help us play better.”

He emphasized the importance of winning, saying, “Winning is paramount. That has never been foreign to me as a coach. You can play however you want, but you have to try to win.” He added that finding ways to win with different kinds of performances has been crucial for them in the past year.

Newcastle comes into this matchup after a 1-2 loss to Arsenal in the Premier League, despite leading the game until seven minutes before the end. Nick Pope faced criticism for his role in Arsenal’s winning goal, but Howe backed his goalkeeper, expecting a rebound after a “great” performance. “This is the life of a goalkeeper. It could have been one of the best performances I have ever seen up to that point,” Howe said. “But you have to consider that his actions at that moment are aimed at helping us win. In my position, I do not look back; you make decisions, and I stand behind Nick. I thought he was fantastic.”