Newcastle are ‘fighting everybody else for success’, insists Eddie Howe, as the Magpies manager admits he would like to see ‘less’ of VAR

• Eddie Howe believes Newcastle are having to ‘fight everyone’ for success
• The Magpies were denied a famous win against PSG after late VAR intervention
• Big Ange has lost three in a row, but no chance he changes his style: It’s All Kicking Off

Eddie Howe has told his Newcastle players to feel as if the world is against their club – and believes the VAR controversy from the Champions League draw against Paris Saint-Germain has strengthened that view.

The Magpies were seconds from a 1-0 victory when PSG were awarded a penalty for a handball by Tino Livramento, the ball deflecting off his chest and onto his elbow.

The referee, World Cup final whistler Szymon Marciniak, only pointed to the spot after the recommendation of a VAR review, and UEFA later as good as admitted an error when the video official was dropped from his next game.

Howe, ahead of Saturday night’s visit of Manchester United, said: ‘We have to try and use it as motivation. I always want that sense that we are against everybody outside of Newcastle. That helps us. It’s a good mentality to have, that we are competing against everybody else. It’s certainly served us well to this point.

‘I don’t think I had to develop (that mindset) strategically, I think it has happened. There have been events that have led us down that path. I think it’s relevant for us. I think it’s there, in our psychology. It is a powerful tool.

Eddie Howe has told his Newcastle players to feel as if the world is against their club

Howe’s Newcastle side were denied a famous win against PSG midweek after a late penalty was awarded against them

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‘I do think we need to use it and embrace it, to try and bring our squad closer together and to bring the whole club closer together, to bring us closer to our supporters, to let them know we are fighting everybody else to achieve success. I think that’s a really healthy image to have in our heads.’

Newcastle have asked UEFA for clarity over the decision to overturn the referee’s original call, which Howe feels was correct. The head coach is also a firm believer in more VAR being to the detriment of the game.

‘I’d like to see less VAR,’ he said. ‘I don’t have an issue with offsides, because that is as close as it can be to being right. The rest, I’m not in favour. I still think it’s just another person’s opinion against another person’s opinion. It’s very subjective. I’d like to see less. I definitely wouldn’t want to see more, because I think it would ruin the game.’

Referee Szymon Marciniak, only pointed to the spot after the recommendation of a VAR review in Paris

Marciniak reviewed the penalty incident on a pitchside monitor before awarding the spot-kick

Of Tuesday’s incident, Howe added: ‘I think if the referee makes a decision and he is taken by VAR to look at the screen, I’d love the referee to keep it more from his perspective, rather than be told what to give.

‘What’s the point in going over to the screen? You know the result as soon as he goes over. Now, 99 per cent of referees go with the VAR decision, rather than his own opinion.

‘He’s looking at the screen and I’m thinking, “Please be strong enough to go with your initial decision”. Unfortunately, he didn’t. That for me, with VAR, is an issue, not enough power is given to the on-field decision, which in this case was correct. 

‘The on-field decision should be given a little bit more strength because the referee is there, he’s feeling the game, he’s managing the game in the middle, and I think that is worth something.’

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