Newcastle squad 'exposed' in Champions League exit, says Eddie ...

LONDON – Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe admitted that his side’s lack of strength in depth was exposed after bowing out of the Champions League in the group stage on Dec 13.

A 2-1 home defeat by AC Milan sealed the Magpies’ fate as they even missed out on dropping into the Europa League.

Newcastle’s first experience of Europe’s elite club competition for 20 years got off to a flying start as they beat Paris Saint-Germain 4-1 at home and drew 0-0 away to Milan.

But they took just one point from their final four games in a devilishly difficult Group F, as an injury crisis took its toll.

While backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, Howe did not splash out as much as expected in the summer transfer window. And he said that having depth is the lesson he has learnt from a bruising campaign.

“The value of the squad, that’s what exposed us,” he told TNT Sports.

“We haven’t had the ability to utilise the squad we created, that’s been a big frustration for us.

“We’ve gone into games with almost one hand behind our back, very limited, and that hasn’t helped our situation.”

Howe had been forced to name the same 10 outfield players for each of Newcastle’s previous five games in all competitions due to a series of injuries and Sandro Tonali’s 10-month ban for betting offences.

He made just one change to his starting line-up against Milan, but had to withdraw two of his star performers this season in Kieran Trippier and Anthony Gordon after the break as they were tired.

Joelinton had fired Newcastle into a first-half lead, but goals from Rafael Leao and Samuel Chukwueze condemned Howe’s men to a third consecutive defeat.

“We’ve got a very stretched squad, those players have gone again and again and I couldn’t be prouder of what they’ve given me physically and mentally,” added Howe.

“We’ve left it all out on the pitch. I don’t think we can have any regrets, but of course we will learn from it and absorb everything to take it into our Premier League form.”

Fatigue has also been a factor as Newcastle’s form has faltered of late in the Premier League. They sit seventh in the table, seven points adrift of the top four.

In the Champions League, the Magpies ended their campaign bottom of Group F on five points, three behind Milan, while Borussia Dortmund (11) and PSG (eight) qualified for the last 16.

PSG scraped into the knockout stage after a 1-1 draw at Dortmund in the group’s other game on Dec 13.

In danger of a first group-stage exit since the Qatari takeover in 2011, the French giants came from a goal down to earn the point that sent them through ahead of Milan on goal difference.

Karim Adeyemi gave Dortmund the lead early in the second half, but teenager Warren Zaire-Emery equalised as PSG kept alive hopes in their latest bid for a maiden Champions League title.

Kylian Mbappe also had the ball in the net late on, but the VAR (video assistant referee) showed that the France striker was narrowly offside.

“We’re happy but we know we could have done better,” Zaire-Emery told broadcaster Canal Plus.

“We played well, but football is like that at times, sometimes the ball just doesn’t want to go in.”

Despite the result, PSG’s timid showing means Luis Enrique’s side have plenty to do if they wish to go much further on the European stage.

“We are still alive. No team will hope to play us in the next round,” the coach said.

The draw for the round of 16 will take place on Dec 18. AFP, REUTERS