Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has thrown down the gauntlet to his stars this weekend by asking them to ensure all paths to glory remain open on Sunday night.
With the trip to Wembley for the Carabao Cup final already secured against Liverpool later this month, Newcastle are also fighting for a place in either the Champions League or Europa League going into the last 11 matches. Despite PSR adversity, the Magpies go into the final two months of the season with an interest in three prizes.
Ahead of the clash against Brighton & Hove Albion, with an FA Cup quarter-final place up for grabs, Howe told Chronicle Live: “We’re pleased but we are always pushing and always wanting more.
“So I think the challenge after this weekend is to still be in those competitions. It is going to be a tough game for us against Brighton. But we want to hit it with aggression and give it everything to get into the next round.”
Suggestions that Howe should rest players with the Carabao Cup final showpiece on the horizon. But the ex-Bournemouth boss insisted he values the competition highly and reflected: “It is a huge competition. We know the importance of it – we don’t take it lightly.
“This will be a tough game. Brighton are in great form. This should be a really exciting cup tie. Their away form has been very strong. It will be a test for us, but one I am sure we can rise to.”
Brighton have bounced back from their 7-0 humiliation at Nottingham Forest by winning four consecutive games. Tuesday’s home victory against Bournemouth lifted them to eighth in the Premier League, just three points off a potential Champions League spot and right behind sixth-placed Newcastle.
Hurzeler said: “For sure when you win four games in a row there’s a lot of positivity in the building and a great atmosphere. In general I always try to say that we want to stay stable and particular in our behaviour and work ethic, because you can’t get too euphoric when you have a great run or too depressed when you don’t get the results you need.
“At the moment we have the results that we want, and it’s important to understand now why the results came and why we are in this situation. We have to continue these things so don’t do less, invest even more to keep the momentum.
“This will be our job now and then I’m sure we can continue this run.”
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