Eddie Howe, the head coach of Newcastle United, expressed his dissatisfaction following the loss to Barcelona in the Champions League, emphasizing that his team needed a higher level to achieve victory.

Howe said: "We performed well, but it wasn't great, and to win against Barcelona, it has to be. We had two big chances, but we failed to capitalize on them."

He added: "We were already in the flow of the match, and we never felt like we were out of it at any time. I feel disappointed that we didn't score the first goal, as it was crucial. It was a match full of courage and enthusiasm, but perhaps we lacked the quality needed to secure the result."

The Newcastle coach continued: "I think we could have defended better on Rashford's first goal, while the second was a stunning shot, but we are frustrated with the way the ball got to him."

Howe concluded his remarks regarding the decision to keep Vultmeid on the bench, saying: "Every player wishes to be a starter, but I have to make decisions to keep the players ready. It was a tough step, but I felt it was necessary."