'We can't shrink': Howe calls on Newcastle players to rise for Barcelona clash

[p]The Premier League club outplayed the Spanish champions in the last 16 first leg, but a late [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lamine-yamal/lAt3vEub/"]Lamine Yamal[/a] penalty [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/barcelona-SKbpVP5K/newcastle-p6ahwuwJ/?mid=pC3kZYup"]snatched a 1-1 draw last week on Tyneside.[/a][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/newcastle-utd/p6ahwuwJ/"]Newcastle[/a], aiming to reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in the club's history, know the challenge will be different [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/barcelona-SKbpVP5K/newcastle-p6ahwuwJ/?mid=hx7cXCAd"]on Wednesday at the home of the five-time winners.[/a][/p][p][b]"I don't think they will (be overawed), we've got an experienced group, we've got many players who have played in so many big games now we've become accustomed to it," [/b]Howe said.[/p][p][b]"You almost want that size of the game to lift the players and to make us grow - certainly we can't shrink - but with many, many internationals within the squad, I don't see that as an issue.[/b][/p][p]"It's just making sure from my side that we get the plan right; they've got a lot of dangerous players that we need to deal with."[/p][embed guid="d986df59-9894-479c-95ae-2e0da8118e3a" url="https://x.com/NUFC/status/2033946594182103467" social-type="twitter" /][p]Newcastle are ninth in the Premier League in a frustrating campaign, but Howe said the club are in their best moment of the season.[/p][p][b]"(The players) are the happiest they have been throughout the season, it's been one of a lot of change... early season we struggled to find our rhythm, our relationships in the team were new,"[/b] continued Howe.[/p][p][b]"Their confidence was affected slightly. We worked really hard to try to bring some stability to the team.[/b][/p][p][b]"In the last few weeks, we've returned to a really good flow. It's been a much better feel, better individual performances in return, better collective performances."[/b][/p][p]Newcastle beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chelsea/4fGZN2oK/"]Chelsea[/a] 1-0 on Saturday with a strong defensive display, which Howe said the team would have to draw from against the likes of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/raphinha/xtBsDPam/"]Raphinha[/a] and teenage star Yamal.[/p][p][b]"You have to be optimistic, and you have to be positive, and that's why the Chelsea result and performance was so important,"[/b] explained Howe.[/p][p][b]"We proved to ourselves that we can defend our goal really well... I think we're as good a place as we've been at any stage this season, both on and off the pitch.[/b][/p][p]"We had to be in this position to give ourselves the best chance, and now we're just putting it over the line."[/p][embed guid="4951dbba-fb3d-4cab-b6a4-fff68dc6d35c" url="https://x.com/NUFC/status/2033893587243368535" social-type="twitter" /][h2]'Really confident'[/h2][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a] beat Newcastle 2-1 in the league phase at St James' Park before last week's draw, but Newcastle defender [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/trippier-kieran/GMqWRFGS/"]Kieran Trippier[/a] said his team were on a high heading into the clash against the La Liga leaders.[/p][p][b]"Yeah, we feel really confident, (although) I think we've had a mixed season,"[/b] Trippier told reporters.[/p][p][b]"There's a really good feeling around the place, so we come here calm and relaxed, looking forward to the game tomorrow, it's a big opportunity, and we know the rewards are going to be there if we put in a good performance."[/b][/p][p]Howe said the game at Camp Nou was "probably" the biggest of his career, and Trippier defended his coach against some criticism he has received this term.[/p][p][b]"I have great respect for what he's done for this football club, he's remarkable,"[/b] added the defender.[/p]