Eddie Howe: Facing Barcelona is historic, and we look forward to delivering a strong performance

Eddie Howe, the head coach of Newcastle United, confirmed the significance of the upcoming match against Barcelona in the first round of the group stage of the UEFA Champions League, noting that it represents a special moment in the club's history.

He said: "It’s a historic match, from the moment we learned that we would face Barcelona, I felt a special magic surrounding the encounter. We are preparing for it tactically very well, and I look forward to delivering a strong performance; the atmosphere will be amazing, and I am very excited to experience this."

He continued: "Certainly, there are lessons we learned from our previous participation in the Champions League, where we did not advance past the group stage, and it was a big disappointment. I believe we can benefit from that experience this time."

He added: "Everything in the Champions League is different from the Premier League: the style of play, the preparation, the atmosphere. So I think what we went through last season will be beneficial for us."

He pointed out: "The current team is stronger than before, despite the changes that have occurred over the past two years. I have full confidence in the quality we possess."

He confirmed: "The schedule is very tough, and the early matches in the group stage are extremely important as they form the foundation for the rest of the journey."

He said: "It’s unfortunate that Lamine Yamal will not participate; I would have loved to see him on the pitch, but we know that Barcelona has fast and dangerous players on the wings, and we will be ready for that."

He concluded his statements by saying: "Barcelona is a team full of international stars, and they will pose a significant challenge for us in various ways, so we must be at our best during the match."