Pardew talks up Newcastle’s Europa League chances
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew believes that his team can win this season’s Europa League.
The Magpies face Russian giants Anzhi Makhachkala in the last-16, after knocking Metalist Kharkiv out in the previous round.
But, despite a major European trophy never having graced the St James’ Park trophy room, Pardew feels that, as long as they get a little luck, his side can claim continental silverware this season:
“Do I think we have got a chance in the competition? When you get to this stage, all the clubs have a chance,” he is quoted by Sky Sports.
“You need some luck, but you need a good technical game and you need to have the right mentality in the group. I think our mentality is strong.”
Newcastle travel to Russia for the first-leg of the tie, and Pardew believes that playing the return game at home could prove to be a plus for his team:
“This tie is going to be close and I think the result here will have a huge reflection on St James’ Park because that is an advantage for us, that the second leg is there, for sure.”
But, the Tyne club will be missing six key players for their trip.
Both Fabricio Coloccini and Tim Krul are injured, whilst January arrivals Mathieu Debuchy and Yoan Gouffran are ineligible.
Papiss Cisse and Jonas Gutierrez were expected to make the squad, but Pardew has elected not to risk the duo, who are suffering from a virus and a knee problem respectively.
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