Eddie Howe hits back after Ten Hag’s dig and says Newcastle’s success is not based on money as he spoke in his press conference.
According to the Magpies boss, the ‘game management stuff’ ‘massively overblown’ after the Manchester United manager claimed that Newcastle United are a team who annoys you.
Ten Hag said that Newcastle were a great team prior to last month’s Carabao Cup final at Wembley with Man Utd winning the match 2-0. But he then suggested that they were annoying and ‘trying to annoy’ you. The Dutchman seemed to be referring specifically to Newcastle’s matches this season.
Referring to a statistic that showed the average time the ball was in play in Newcastle’s Premier League matches this season, the United manager said it was the lowest among all sides in the division, and claimed the Red Devils were ‘dependent’ on the referee – as well as themselves – to get ‘speed in the game’ in the cup final.
Newcastle boss Howe said that those comments were part of the game as they prepare for their match at St James’ Park this Sunday.
“It’s part of the game, but not the main part of the game,” said Howe, per Manchester Evening News. “The main part of the game is we have to play well. We have to be really good in possession and really good out of possession.
“The game management stuff has been massively overblown towards us in the media. That’s just my opinion.
“First and foremost, we want to be a good football team, but if there are things you can do, as Kieran showed for the penalty, to help your team in certain moments, that are all within the laws of the game, we will try to do it.”
“I would make the point that there are a lot of clubs with bigger budgets than us,” said Howe, when asked if Newcastle really were competing with Manchester United on a level playing field again, as per The Telegraph.
“I’ve said all along, our success is not based on money at all. I’m seeing the work and the spirit and the togetherness of the group, what every player is giving to the cause. When a team is successful it is not down to one thing, it’s a collective and a lot of different aspects go into that. It’s the same if a team isn’t performing well, We will keep doing what we are doing.
“I don’t think it is for me to judge if we are competing with Manchester United as equals. It is not what I spend my time doing. I just make sure when we turn up we are a better team than we were the week before. That is the aim.
“You can buck that trend [of the richest clubs being the most successful.] It is possible. It is not easy to do. Team spirit, togetherness, implementing a plan. Hopefully everyone is on the same page and working harder than everyone else. It is a simple blueprint that I have always tried to use.
“There are ambitions for the club to grow income. It is vital we do that because of financial fair play. We are going to be restricted depending on our income. I know that is the challenge everyone at the club is trying to find answers to.”
On the status of the squad following the recent international break, Howe added: “I think it’s been good for some players. It gave us an opportunity to rest a couple who were carrying niggles, problems and injuries and they had for a number of weeks. Fabian would be a prime example of someone that’s played through pain and the break came at a good time for him.
“It came at a good time for Anthony Gordon to improve his injury and try to get him closer to returning. Hopefully, we’ve used that time wisely. He did a very small part of training on Wednesday so we’ll see how he has responded to that today.
“Nick (Pope) felt a problem in his thigh after the Wolves game. He didn’t train in preparation for the Nottingham Forest game, completing that game with a bit of discomfort so didn’t train when we were in Dubai. He has trained this week so the signs are good.”
On the importance of the remaining fixtures, with United targeting European qualification for the first time since 2011/12 following a fifth-placed finish:
“I think the games, at this stage, get bigger and bigger because you’re running out of opportunities to correct yourself if you make a mistake. We’re well aware of the importance of this game that we’re back at home in front of our supporters.
“Our last result (at St. James’ Park) was a really positive one as well so we’re looking forward to playing again. It’s been a long two weeks for us and we’re keen to play again quite quickly.
“We feel we’ve prepared as well as we can do for this game and the team is ready.”
On facing Manchester United and the importance of back-to-back Premier League wins before the international break: “It’s a massive month. Whenever you have an intense period of games, those results are going to define what we do this season. The last two results have put us in a really strong position and also lifted confidence levels and morale within the squad.
“This is going to be a big week to come. We’ve got Manchester United first and we have to focus on that alone and learn our lessons from the cup final defeat, analyse that game, and try and improve.”
Eric ten Hag on Newcastle:
“They are a team that are hard to beat. They delay. That is what the referee doesn’t want. Tempo of the game is the aim of the Premier League, to do and act what the policy is.”
Wants to look at his own players first, bunch of cheats, time wasters… pic.twitter.com/MFDCSicYMP
— Magpie 24/7 (@Magpie24_7) March 31, 2023
This is what fans had to say as Eddie Howe hits back after Ten Hag’s dig and says Newcastle’s success is not based on money…
@lee_boyes: We are now a threat to these other so called big 6 now and they are not liking it 🙄they best get used to it the morons as the best is yet to come for sure ⚫️⚪️ HWTL
@finnaz1892: When #nufc do it – they say it’s time wasting but when manure do it – it’s called game management #cartel6
@JosephCosgrove7: The reality this season is that Newcastle have got under the skin of Ten Hag, Klopp & Arteta & doubtless Conte. We’ve proven to be a threat to status quo. Pep’s tried faux compliments but if we push again next season that veil may also slip
@kevin_busby: We’ll annoy the fucker on Sunday #NUFC
@Geordie2Exiled: What a hypocrite he has a team of cheats and whingers
@NUFC_Adam_SW: The referee isn’t there to decide the tempo the game is played at, he is there to make sure the rules of the game are adhered to.
@KickOffConcepts: 62% possession against them in the cup final. 435 passes to their 282, 8 fouls to their 12, 3 yellow cards to their 6. Blokes needs to look at his own teams ‘tempo’.
@peak_flow: Straight out of the Ferguson ‘mind games’ playbook.
@smudga27: These top teams are unreal. They have been managing periods of games for years including the tempo , the referee , the crowd it is all part of the game plan. Stop moaning when others join the party …
@Barrywmagee: We can beat em on Sunday. They were lucky in the carabao cup final, best team didn’t win
@alanhoggjnr: If I had a choice of beating any team this season it would be these lot, really hope we stuff them
@denty69: I have a feeling they’ll find out on Sunday. 🖤🤍
@Rudd1892: Think SJP will be like a cauldron/wall of noise on Sunday. 1996 style spanking is enroute for the annoying little egghead. Schär to deliver the Albert style cherry on top #MysticRudd #NUFC 🖤🤍
@Whiplash_Smile_: He’s on the wind up as he’s scared of us. We should be happy he’s saying these things as it’s obvious Newcastle United are a threat to the big 6. ⚫️⚪️
@NUFC_Sam02: I absolutely hate this man with a passion.
@Brashmeister81: Get it in early Eric incase we absolutely pump you on Sunday…. you whopper! 😂🥴 #NUFC #MUFC
@JulioGeordio80: Trying Fergie’s mind game tactics, daft cûnt
@MagpieKit: He’s literally copy and pasting his mind games from the final a few weeks ago. He’ll after to do better than that if he wants to emulate a quarter of the success of SAF.
@DavidTa41816701: Surely @NUFC will have a word with @FA_PGMOL ten egg swaying the refs AGAIN
@allman85: He’s a strange bloke him. They’ve one of the most expensive squads ever assembled and They’ve scored 2 more goals and conceded 16 less. You’d swear he has them playing like peak barcelona
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