I thought we were magnificent – Eddie Howe reflects on Aston Villa match (and Alexander Isak situation…)

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·17 de agosto de 2025

I thought we were magnificent – Eddie Howe reflects on Aston Villa match (and Alexander Isak situation…)

Eddie Howe and his players travelled to Villa Park on Saturday.

No doubt everybody grateful that at last it could be action on the pitch talked about, at least to an extent…

Vídeos OneFootball

The opening match of Newcastle’s season seeing United pick up a very good point away from home and a performance that deserved more.

Eddie Howe stating; “I thought we were magnificent, front-foot, very aggressive.”

It was just finishing the chances that prevented United getting a deserved win, which of course then only fed further into the Alexander Isak talk after the final whistle.

Eddie Howe talking to BBC Sport after Aston Villa 0 Newcastle 0:

“I’m happy with the point.

“I thought we were magnificent, front-foot, very aggressive.

“We had chances to score.

“I think we had a bit of a lull in the game until the red card and then came on strong again.

“I’m disappointed we didn’t win. I don’t think we dominated, chance-wise, the way we wanted. We were maybe a little bit too anxious to score but the players really turned up and gave everything.”

Eddie Howe asked by BBC Sport about needing a striker:

“I can’t criticise anyone who played today.

“I thought Anthony Gordon was very good in that position. I couldn’t fault his performance.

“I think we have to focus at how the team functioned rather than any individual.

“If you’re not totally together in the Premier League, you’re going to find it very difficult.

“I think we answered a few questions today in terms of our spirit. We have to do that on a regular basis, not just today.”

Eddie Howe asked about Alexander Isak by BBC Sport:

“From my perspective, you want a resolution quickly.

“It’s taking away the focus of the players, of the supporters.

“We want to be united together.

“We’d like a resolution but we’re not in control of that.”

Eddie Howe speaking to TNT Sports about the Alexander Isak situation:

“It’s a difficult one to answer.

“I hope it’s resolved quickly because it’s news around us all the time.

“Players have managed to shut that out and perform. We have to continue to do that.

“We have to cope without the narrative against us.”

Eddie Howe asked by TNT Sports about facing Liverpool next:

“It’s always spicy against Liverpool, there’s a history to the fixture.

“We look forward to it. We know how good they are.”

Eddie Howe asked by TNT Sports about Anthony Elanga on his debut:

“He was really good.

“I thought he was direct, showed real quality.

“He looks like a player who will elevate us.”

During his post-match press conference, Eddie Howe asked about Isak’s future:

“The door is well and truly open but Alexander Isak needs to decide what he wants to do. We’d like a resolution, we need that clarity. I’m not in control of it, but only one person is. I’ve made my stance pretty clear.”

Eddie Howe asked if Alexander Isak will now be fined by Newcastle United, having allegedly made himself unavailable for the Villa match:

“Other people are dealing with that issue.

“I am concentrating on the team”

As for the outcome of the match, Eddie Howe asked the ‘what if’ Alexander Isak had been playing?:

“It is easy to say (we would have won with Alexander Isak) but there is no way of knowing that’s the case.

“Of course though we are going to miss him”

Eddie Howe on the chants from the travelling Newcastle United fans aimed at Alexander Isak after the match, such as ‘There’s only one greedy bas..rd’:

“Whatever happens (with Alexander Isak), our supporters acted really well today, because they supported the team when we were playing.

“They have always done that unbelievably well.

“If they want to say something afterwards, they are free to do that”

Aston Villa 0 Newcastle 0 – Saturday 16 August 2025 12.30pm

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Villa

Konsa red card 66

(Stats in brackets are at half-time)

Possession was Newcastle 59% (58%) Villa 41% (42%)

Total shots were Newcastle 16 (8) Villa 3 (0)

Shots on target were Newcastle 3 (2) Villa 3 (0)