Murphy boldly made a striking statement after Newcastle advanced to the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, where they will face either Barcelona or Chelsea.
On 25 February 2026, Jacob Murphy, winger for Newcastle United, spoke after their UEFA Champions League playoff second leg, where they narrowly defeated Azerbaijan's Qarabağ 3-2 at home, winning 9-3 on aggregate.
This victory secured Newcastle's place in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, where they will face either Chelsea, fellow English Premier League rivals, or Barcelona, the La Liga giants they previously met in the group stage. The draw for the matchups will be held on Friday, 27 February.
Although Newcastle will face tough opponents in the next UCL stage regardless of who they meet, Jacob Murphy responded defiantly, saying "anyone".
"To be honest, with this squad, we are ready to fight anyone, especially in knockout football. We are confident in ourselves. Whoever comes, bring it on," he said.