"Which team is better to face?" Howe speaks frankly after Newcastle reaches the UCL last 16, awaiting Barcelona or Chelsea.
On 25 Feb 2026 GMT+7, Eddie Howe, Newcastle United's manager, gave an interview after the UEFA Champions League playoff second leg, where Newcastle narrowly beat Qarabag from Azerbaijan 3-2 at home, winning 9-3 on aggregate.
This victory secured Newcastle's place in the UCL last 16, where they will face either Chelsea, fellow Premier League side, or Spanish La Liga giant Barcelona, whom they have already met in the group stage. The draw will take place on Friday, 27 Feb 2026 GMT+7.
Eddie Howe commented on Newcastle reaching the last 16: "This has been our goal since the start of the season. We discussed many things, and advancing to the knockout stage was our target. We feel we achieved it with the players we have. It's a very exciting moment in this competition. We enjoyed the different challenges it presents."
"The knockout stage will bring new challenges facing top teams, so there is much to look forward to. But deep down, we must regain our desired form in the Premier League, which will give us the best chance to perform well in this tournament too."
"(Regarding the next round against Barcelona or Chelsea) Honestly, I haven't thought about that. I know those teams are tough opponents for us. The important thing is advancing and being satisfied with the professional performance we've shown."
"Looking at the results over the two legs, you can see every player performed excellently, even though today's win might seem less significant for us."
"We enjoyed the match against Barcelona (a 1-2 loss) and also played well in the game against Chelsea here (a 2-2 draw). But we didn't win either match, so I hope something positive comes for us."