Howe Urges Newcastle to Deliver Top Performance Against Chelsea

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe calls for a top-notch performance against Chelsea as the Magpies aim to secure a top-five finish in the Premier League. The match is set to be a crucial encounter in the race for Champions League qualification.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is pushing his team to fulfill their potential by securing a Champions League spot. With three games left in the Premier League season, Howe's side sits fourth in the standings, just a spot that guarantees a place in Europe's top club competition.

Howe emphasized that there's an internal expectation to deliver Champions League football, especially after winning the League Cup final against Liverpool, ending the club's 56-year trophy drought. Newcastle currently has 63 points from 35 matches, with teams like Chelsea closely trailing behind. A strong finish to the season could see them meet Howe's expectations.

A win over fifth-placed Chelsea at St James' Park on Sunday would be a significant step toward Newcastle's top-five goal. Newcastle currently edges Chelsea out on goals scored.

Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, and Aston Villa are also in the mix for a Champions League spot, making the upcoming matches crucial for all contenders.

Newcastle fans celebrated a historic League Cup win against Liverpool, ending a 56-year trophy drought. However, manager Eddie Howe believes the team's internal expectation to qualify for the Champions League remains unchanged.

“We feel an expectation, certainly internally, to try to deliver Champions League football,” Howe said. “It was an expectation that we placed upon ourselves, so I get what you're trying to say, but I don't necessarily feel that way internally.”

Eddie Howe on Chelsea challenge:

"We expect them to revert to their last league side, they performed very well against Liverpool, they have a lot of attacking players back in form so it should be a good game. We have played Chelsea twice this season - we know their qualities.… pic.twitter.com/on2756IhYz

— Newcastle United (@NUFC) May 9, 2025

”Winning the cup final, I think, gave us a freedom and a new-found confidence off the back of achieving that. That gave us a bounce in the next few games. We elevated our performance off the back of that.

“But that feels like it was, in football terms, quite a while ago.

”Now we have to focus on these last three games knowing, for me, just how good the team can be. We have to set our expectations very high.”

Eddie Howe on home advantage:

"Our home form has been good, we have a great environment to play in, we need the crowd with us, it is imperative. We know they will be there for us, and we have to perform for them. It is the kind of game that we need to rise to the occasion." pic.twitter.com/s4S78BwYoK

— Newcastle United (@NUFC) May 9, 2025

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe believes his team needs to deliver a standout performance to beat Chelsea.

“I think we'll have to go close to that kind of performance in order to win,” Howe said, referencing their dynamic League Cup final win over Liverpool. “Chelsea gave us one of our toughest games of the season at Stamford Bridge earlier this season. I thought they were excellent and I think they've started to re-capture that form in their recent games.”

”Enzo Maresca is a very good manager. He's very clever with what he does with the style of play that they possess, and they've got really good attacking players that can hurt us if we're not right.”