Howe on Newcastle's brilliant 2-1 win over Manchester City

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Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe reacts to their brilliant 2-1 win over Manchester City in the Premier League St James Park, Newcastle, UK

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00:00Okay guys, alright, cheers, alright guys, no one's saying hello to Lee today, he's toned

00:24it down.

00:34Yeah, it was, I think we had a long, long wait in between the Brentford game and this game

00:44and in some respects that was probably a good thing because it allowed us time to reflect

00:48but then time to work and the players that stayed will vouch for that, you know, we tried

00:55to re-find our energy and our athleticism through training and of course there was a group with

01:00us, there wasn't the whole squad and we tried to then instill that into the guys that came

01:05back from international duty that this is what we've worked on and this is what we need

01:08to deliver and the players didn't let us down, they were magnificent today, the heart and

01:12energy and athleticism was there and it needed to be because playing such a good opponent,

01:16one mistake and you're going to get punished and I thought it was a really high level game

01:19against two, pretty good team.

01:23Yeah it does and I think Harvey never really gets affected by missing, I think that's a

01:36great asset to have as a goal scorer and he's certainly that, his record for a wide player

01:41is incredible in front of goal and the first goal was probably the hardest of the lot, unbelievable finish.

01:46The second one's about his instincts and being in the right place at the right time, really,

01:50really pleased for him, he's a great person, great professional, he always gives his best

01:54and great to see him rewarded with the two goals today.

02:01What, winning?

02:02I would just take satisfaction out of winning and whether there's extra, no, because the

02:16only satisfaction is trying to get a positive result and we needed it today, you know, we're

02:20under no illusions, we're under pressure and we were playing the best team in the Premier

02:24League over the last God knows how long so and our record against them has not been good so a lot

02:29came together today, most of all I'm delighted for the players.

02:34Well I think that's how we're trying to look at it, Damien, we want to try and build momentum in our

02:43season, we want to try and build the confidence back to where it has been historically.

02:47You can only do that by winning and you're looking for turning points and moments and

02:52direct your season where you want it to go.

02:54The West Ham and Brentford games were where we don't want to be and the feeling was as

02:59bad as I've experienced.

03:01But then you're just looking for some positive the other way and we got it today and the

03:06lads fully deserved it, gave everything to the game, that's all you can ever ask.

03:10Yeah, possibly, I think you need that and for me that is described as doing everything it

03:23takes to win.

03:25So yeah, I think you need a bit of devilment in your game.

03:31Of course within the rules you want to see red cards but you want to see us being really

03:34hard and fair to try and do everything we can to win.

03:38Yeah, well, I always say the team is formed by individuals.

03:53The individuals create the team and they've all got different attributes.

03:56So you saw today Lewis Hall's technical ability, considered again the length of time that he's

04:01been out and he's one that hadn't trained with us.

04:03So we hadn't really seen him during the international break.

04:05That was a great performance from him.

04:08It took the ball under pressure, linked really well with Harvey, ran forward when he was able

04:13to in that first half before his legs started to tire.

04:16And then you go Tino who had stayed with us and had done a lot of hard work.

04:20I thought physically looked unbelievable today considering he's seven weeks out and a really

04:24high level performance against a very dangerous opponent.

04:26So I did think they both played really well.

04:37Yeah, well, I think Fabian and Malik deserve real praise today because the way that we play,

04:41we're brave, we're aggressive and that leaves our centre-halves at times sort of big areas to cover.

04:48I thought they both read the game really well.

04:50They got the positioning spot on, both excellent with the ball too.

04:54So yeah, very pleased with the two centre-halves today.

04:57Well, I think you know with Pep and historically understand that he likes to mix things up and change things potentially.

05:17So I think in my mind was, you know, what may they do next to try and gain control of the game and to try and take out our threats.

05:25And you're always, you know, it's a game of, I know people say it, but it's a game of chess to a degree.

05:29You're trying to work out what they're going to do and you're trying to think what you can do to hurt them.

05:33And so halftime is a very, very busy time.

05:35There's a lot going on, but you need a coolness of head to try and figure out the best strategy to go forward with.

05:40And I was really pleased with our attacking intent in the second half because we didn't sink too deep.

05:45Although at times we knew we wouldn't have the ball.

05:47And I thought our defensive shape was really, really strong when it needed to be.

05:51So pleased with every aspect of our game really today.

06:02Well, yeah, we worked on things that we've never worked on before against Manchester City.

06:06And I'm not saying that's why we got the positive result, but you're always looking for things that you can...

06:12I've got list upon list of things that haven't worked against.

06:16So I could probably tell you what doesn't.

06:18Telling you what does is a very small piece of paper.

06:22But I think you just try to learn from experience and then tweak something the next time.

06:27And that's what we've done.

06:28Chris Scott.

06:31Hi.

06:32I mean, I asked you yesterday about the record.

06:34You had to get the punches.

06:35You said all four.

06:36Back up.

06:37Five, four.

06:38Is it something you fixate upon when you said record against a team like that,

06:42that you didn't want to get the better of them?

06:44Not really.

06:45No, actually, I'd probably go the opposite way.

06:47I don't...

06:49You know, it works two ways.

06:51You know, we have better results or have had historically better results against some teams

06:56than others.

06:57And it just works out that way sometimes.

06:58I think we've come really, as I said before, we've come really close in different games.

07:01And for whatever reason, it hasn't happened.

07:04Today it did, but it was down to the players.

07:07It's always down to the players that the margins today between winning and losing was so small.

07:11I mean, I've been told about the VAR, how tight that was.

07:14If that doesn't go away, you don't know how the game unfolds.

07:16But most important thing, take away the sort of the result was the heart and the spirit of the group.

07:22The performance from the team was there.

07:24The hunger was there.

07:25The motivation was there.

07:26And that's the key things we have to take forward.

07:28Because I think if those qualities are there with our delivery and the players that we have,

07:34we can beat anybody.

07:35You just made one of them with the ship, Bruno, and Sandra, around the game.

07:39Just explain that.

07:40And also, football, whatever.

07:41Yeah, that was one of the things we tweaked just to, without going into too much detail,

07:46just to get the appropriate player in the position that we wanted them in.

07:51I thought both players played very, very well today.

07:54You mentioned Lewis there.

07:57Was that just fatigue?

07:59I think so.

08:01Yeah, I have not had a detailed debrief for the medical team.

08:04But I think the cramp is what I'm led to believe it is.

08:08When Lee was talking about the full-back, we obviously see the way they affect the game in their position.

08:14But actually, having that kind of attack and threat from there, having that energy from there,

08:18it affects all the other parts of the team as well, doesn't it?

08:21It affects how Jacob can play, it affects how you can feel free to play.

08:25It doesn't just affect what they do with full-back.

08:28Yeah, I'd say the same about any position.

08:31Every position on the pitch, especially with how we play, affects the other players.

08:36So, if you have something that's not quite working, the team will suffer.

08:40So, that's just with how we play.

08:43We're not individual-based, we're very partnership-based.

08:46I think whenever you play like that, there is the potential for things not to have the normal rhythm.

08:52Today was a good day in that respect.

08:55But there will be, of course, other challenges ahead.

08:57And that's not to dismiss the qualities of the other players that have played in those positions,

09:00because they bring something different.

09:02Just very pleased with our attitude generally today.

09:05I thought it was a much better return than our last outing against Brentford.

09:10Can I just ask you on Kieran and Anthony?

09:13Yeah, Anthony's very close.

09:15Just not quite ready for today.

09:17But he's working hard and he'll be ready, I think, in the next few days.

09:21Kieran, I'm unsure. I'm waiting for feedback from the medical team.

09:25I think there are a few more questions you can.

09:27We'll start with Dominic, Daniel and Martin, I think.

09:30Andy, after continuing to make goals this season, how was it refreshing and how did it feel?

09:36Yeah, it was important.

09:39I mean, when the eight minutes went up, that was a bit of a shock to me.

09:42I wasn't necessarily prepared for that.

09:45So, that brought back some bad memories.

09:48So, I was very, very pleased to navigate those eight minutes and the players did that really well,

09:52because the concentration has to be so high.

09:55We were going to naturally, I think, be penned in at that stage.

09:58Some tired legs, tired bodies, players slightly playing out of position as well.

10:03Jacob Murphy moved to left, did really, really well today.

10:06Jacob, you can't underestimate his versatility and his know-how in that moment.

10:11And, yeah, we managed to do it.

10:13I've got no idea what happened there.

10:19The referee advised me to get in the tunnel.

10:23Daniel?

10:24What was a positive point for you?

10:27Despite the fact that you were missing chances in the first half,

10:30the chances were coming when the team was growing and creating those openings for you?

10:35Absolutely.

10:36The biggest time to worry is when you're not flowing and you're not creating anything.

10:40And we've had games like that this season where you think,

10:43I'm not sure we can score today.

10:44And I don't want to produce that team and I don't want to produce that style of football.

10:48I want to look a threat in every phase, in every moment.

10:52And I thought we did today.

10:53Even when we don't have the ball, you want to think one loose pass from the opposition

10:56and we can attack the other end.

10:58And today, I think we had that feeling about us.

11:00Great to see Nick have some chances.

11:02He's done very well with his goal return from limited shots.

11:06But today, I felt, while he was on the pitch, he could score.

11:10Yeah, I think the acid test is Marseille and Everton.

11:25We have to now go away in the Champions League to a very, very difficult opponent.

11:29And we need to perform.

11:30We get very limited rest.

11:31And that's the challenge and the biggest challenge that we face.

11:34Our schedule between now and the end of January is relentless.

11:37So, now the players have to look after themselves.

11:39We have to regroup and we have to go again.

11:49No, genuinely, it doesn't.

11:51It means something to beat Manchester City for Newcastle.

11:55That's the thing.

11:58My individual, it's irrelevant.

12:01Although, I have to say, we've had some painful moments over the years.

12:05It were really painful moments.

12:07And every defeat is painful.

12:09And you remember, I remember every single one.

12:11So, it's nice to win for the team.

12:14And we needed it in the Premier League.

12:15You know, we knew the league position wasn't good enough.

12:20Can you measure the size of that?

12:24I think time will tell on that.

12:26It is a big moment for us because it will give us a big injection of confidence,

12:30which I think we needed.

12:31And when I say we, the whole squad needed.

12:33And we've got players that are close to coming back that can make us even better.

12:36So, hopefully, it comes at a really good time.

12:39Great.

12:40You've already touched on this.

12:42I think one of our missing chances.

12:44He might not have been the same as if he hadn't gone out of the win the game.

12:47But how important was that?

12:48How did you achieve that?

12:49Because Nick's connections were different.

12:52How did you achieve that?

12:54Well, I think the work we did in the break was really important.

13:01Now, Nick wasn't part of that.

13:02He was away in Germany.

13:03But we worked a lot on different movements of the players around him

13:07to try and bring out the best in him, if that makes sense.

13:11So, despite the fact he wasn't with us, we were thinking of him.

13:17Dan Byrne, no, he was away as well.

13:19So, I can't say that one.

13:24Do you have a question behind the platform of the away issues?

13:26What's the difference between the teams and the backs against the teams?

13:32Well, I think an obvious answer.

13:37I think it's the crowd.

13:39And as much as I'd like to say the crowd sort of shouldn't make a difference to the players on the pitch,

13:45it changes everything.

13:47I think we have to figure out a way then to transfer some positive energy into our performances away when we don't have the crowd.

13:56So, that's going to be for us to fix.

13:58Whether that's system-related, personnel-related, whatever that is, we need to work hard to figure that out.

14:04But here, at home, with the energy the crowd give us and the belief they give us, we're okay.

14:10But yeah, lots to think about and ponder before our next two games.

14:14I don't agree with ripping things up.

14:24Unless you're in absolute panic mode, which we're not, and I don't believe in that style of leadership anyway.

14:31I think I've got a very good idea on who our stronger players are.

14:35I want to then try and give them every opportunity to showcase that by helping them and developing them.

14:41That doesn't mean that you tolerate poor performances over a longer period of time,

14:45and sometimes you have to make some very difficult calls.

14:48I'll always pick what I think is the best team out of who's fit and available for the next game,

14:53and that's what I'll continue to do.

14:56Thanks very much.

14:58Thank you. Cheers.

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