Newcastle boss responds to new Saudi targets involving Man City and Man Utd

Newcastle United 2 Brighton and Hove Albion 1, Simon Bird shares his thoughts.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has sent a message to Manchester City and Manchester United after responding to targets set by the club’s chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan. The Magpies finished fourth in the Premier League last season following a sublime campaign and are set to play in the Champions League this time around.

Newcastle were taken over by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund in October 2021 after former owner Mike Ashley agreed to sell the club for £300million.

When the club changed hands, they were in freefall on the pitch and appeared to be heading towards relegation to the Championship. But Howe turned the club’s fortunes around following his appointment and led Newcastle to an 11th-place finish before backing that up with Champions League qualification.

In the new Prime Video documentary We Are Newcastle, Al-Rumayyan tells viewers that his aim is for the Magpies to be “No 1.” If he wants to be No 1 on the pitch, Newcastle will have to topple Pep Guardiola’s Citizens after they won the Premier League title for the fourth time in five years last season. And if the Saudi wants to be No 1 off the pitch, they will have to leapfrog Manchester United, who are said to be the best supported club in England.

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“I know the expectations of the football club,” Howe said as he addressed the TV cameras. “I know his thoughts and aims and ambitions and I want to hit those targets for him.

“The pressure I feel is from myself. Even if Yasir could sit me down and have a talk I would welcome that and if he wanted to give me direct objectives, no problem. That wouldn’t create a fear in me, the fear comes from myself. Ultimately I have to look at myself. I can only do what I can do. That is what I mark myself against – what I am giving, if I am giving my all.”

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Al-Rumayyan also told the documentary makers: “It’s a mindset, it’s how strong you are.” But Howe went on to speak about focusing on one game at a time. “The key thing is not to think about that,” the ex-Bournemouth boss added. “The key thing last season was can we beat say Nottingham Forest [on the opening day of last season]? If we beat them it is a great place to build a season.”

Newcastle will begin their new Premier League campaign by hosting Aston Villa next weekend ahead of clashes with Manchester City and Liverpool.

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