Eddie Howe Benfica press conference – Speaks ahead of Champions League clash

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·20 de outubro de 2025

Eddie Howe Benfica press conference – Speaks ahead of Champions League clash

The Eddie Howe Benfica press conference has taken place.

The Newcastle United boss speaking to journalists on Monday afternoon.

Vídeos OneFootball

This is ahead of Tuesday night’s game at St James’ Park

United having won one and lost one of their first two matches in the Champions League.

A narrow home defeat to Barcelona and then Newcastle with a thumping 4-0 win in Brussels.

Eddie Howe Benfica press conference – 20 October 2025:

Eddie Howe on Sandro Tonali:

“A bit of illness for Sandro so he will be touch and go for the game.

“We’ll give him every opportunity.

“He wasn’t there for training today.

“He’s such an important player so we’ll use all the hours we have.”

Eddie Howe on the defeat to Brighton:

“We feel like we need another game.

“We’re delighted to play again quickly and try to build momentum back in our performances.

“Reflecting on the Brighton game was mixed.

“There was a lot of good in the game but ultimately it doesn’t matter, we lost the game and we know we need to improve.”

Eddie Howe on facing Jose Mourinho, who has won the Champions League with two different clubs as a manager:

“He’s someone that I hugely admire having come up against him before in the Premier League.

“As a younger coach, I really admired the teams that he built, at Chelsea in particular.

“A visionary and someone who broke the mould in how you manage in different ways to do things and then following his success through different clubs in different leagues.

“It’s incredible what he has achieved in his career so I think it’s always a good opportunity for any club to go up against one of his teams.

“[I’m] looking forward to the challenge immensely and it’s going to be a great game.”

Eddie Howe on a return to Champions League action:

“We love these games.

“The Barcelona game here was so close for us and it could have been a very different outcome.

“We’ve been in that position a lot this season where the results could have gone either way.

“We’ve been very competitive, we were competitive that night and this has a similar type of feel under the lights here. The atmosphere will be electric, I have no doubt.

“I hope our performance mirrors that crowd energy that we’re going to get.”

Eddie Howe on the season so far:

“Frustrating is the feeling.

“I think we’re so close to being something more and getting better results than we have.

“I think team performances have been strong, we’ve been very good defensively although there was a couple of lapses against Brighton that we were punished for.

“”We’re working so hard to try and create chances and the best example of that is our goal. It was a move from our goalkeeper to the finish – it’s a brilliant goal. That’s a lot of work to get that goal.

“You make your own luck and you can only turn things your own way by doing the right things continually. I don’t think we’re far away, we just have to keep to our beliefs.”

Eddie Howe on Jose Mourinho’s connection with Sir Bobby Robson:

“I’ve heard José’s words about Newcastle and I echo them myself.

“Everyone connected to the club has great words about Sir Bobby and the role he played in his career – that’s really nice to hear.

“The line stops tomorrow when the game kicks off.

“We want to win. We’re desperate for the points and it will be a competitive game between two great clubs.”

Confirmed Newcastle United fixtures to 20 December 2025 (All of the Champions League matches will also be available to watch on TV in the UK):

Tuesday 21 October: Newcastle United vs Benfica (8pm)

Saturday 25 October – Newcastle v Fulham (3pm)

Wednesday 29 October – Newcastle v Spurs (8pm) ITV and Sky Sports

Sunday 2 November – West Ham v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports

Wednesday 5 November: Newcastle United vs Athletic Club Bilbao (8pm)

Sunday 9 November – Brentford v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports