This Wednesday at 9pm (CET) Paris Saint-Germain (6th) will face Newcastle (7th) at the Parc des Princes in the 8th round of the 2025-2026 Champions League. In a press conference, English coach Eddie Howe spoke about this match and the Parisian opponent.
Howe: “We’ll know more in the coming hours.”
“How are Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes, who were doubtful before this trip to Paris?
Joe had a scan; he doesn’t have a serious injury, but he’ll be out for several weeks. As for Bruno, he’s with us. We’ll know more in the coming hours.”
Howe: “During the first match, I think I experienced the best atmosphere I can remember at St James’ Park.”
What did you learn from your two previous encounters against PSG in the Champions League, during the 2023-2024 group stage (a 4-1 victory for the Magpies at St James’ Park, then a 1-1 draw at the Parc des Princes)?
They were two very different matches. During the first one, I think I experienced the best atmosphere I can remember at St James’ Park. It helped us, inspired us. And then there was Fabian Schär’s goal (a curling shot into the top corner in the 91st minute)… It was incredible to see a center-back score like that. From the second leg, I remember PSG playing very well and us defending brilliantly to maintain our lead (the Magpies were leading 1-0 after Alexander Isak’s goal in the 24th minute). Then there was that incident everyone remembers (a controversial penalty awarded to PSG in the 95th minute and converted by Kylian Mbappé). I was very proud of my players.
Howe: “They’re not trying to copy anyone.”
What do you think of Luis Enrique’s PSG, who beat many English clubs last season and recently dominated Tottenham (5-3, on November 26th)?
I watched all those matches and they impressed me greatly. This is truly a team to admire, because of the way they play, the way their manager has developed and strengthened them with well-chosen signings. There are many praiseworthy aspects to this team, particularly their rather unique style of play. They don’t try to copy anyone. It’s also worth noting that they have very athletic players in every position and that technically, they are all very good. For me, this is the ultimate test, the toughest match we could play.
In Eddie Howe’s comments, everything points to the same idea: this trip to Paris is not just any match. First, there’s the management of available players, with Joelinton out for several weeks and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Bruno Guimarães, a key player in the English midfield. But beyond the injury list, Howe emphasizes above all the magnitude of the challenge.
Facing Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain, Newcastle is preparing to take on a mature team, confident in its principles and athletically dominant. The English coach doesn’t speak of a mere opponent, but of an “ultimate test,” revealing the true level of his squad. This deliberate, almost didactic respect underscores PSG’s new European status: a benchmark, no longer a model to emulate, but a team to be faced with humility and character.
Howe: “In the coming days, we’re going to learn a lot about ourselves.”
How are you approaching the difficult schedule Newcastle is currently facing?
It’s a pivotal period. When you look at the sequence of matches and the identity of our opponents (Newcastle will then travel to Liverpool in the Premier League, followed by Manchester City in the second leg of the League Cup semi-final), this run of fixtures will be demanding both physically and psychologically. In the coming days, we’re going to learn a lot about ourselves. Hopefully, with positive lessons. But I have faith in my team.”
For Paris Saint-Germain, the stakes go far beyond the simple result. This match comes at a pivotal moment in the season, a time when the balance of power solidifies and the team’s cohesion needs to be fully established. The good news for PSG lies in the gradual return of players who have been sidelined for a long time, giving Luis Enrique additional options in the crucial final stages of European competition.
More depth, more solutions, but also greater demands: at this stage, every detail counts. Facing an English opponent who approaches the game with confidence but also with clear-headedness, PSG has the opportunity to confirm that their rise to prominence is not just theoretical. This kind of match isn’t just about quality, but about being ready at the right moment. And Paris knows that the right moment is now.
