Alan Pardew says Champions League qualification for Newcastle would be as big as a trophy

 

Alan Pardew believes qualifying for the Champions League would be as big for Newcastle as ending their 43-year wait for a trophy.

The Magpies embark upon their latest attempt to end a lengthy silverware drought when they head for Manchester United in the Capital Cup third round tonight.

They have not taken a major trophy back to Tyneside since their 1969 European Fairs Cup triumph.

However, they came within five points of Champions League qualification last year and Pardew insists the kudos and riches that would bring would be every bit as important as winning a cup.

He said: "Obviously, we want to win something - you shouldn't be in the game unless you want to win something.

"Winning for us would be actually qualifying for the Champions League - that would be winning for us, 100%. It would be like winning a trophy.

"But our fans would like to see a nice big cup, I am sure, and hopefully we can achieve that somewhere down the line.

"We are getting to the stage where there's a mentality and a quality in the group that could win a competition such as this.

"We have to just try to win every game that we enter and see where our goals are come Christmas-time when we can really start focusing on what we want to achieve this season."

Pardew himself was still a schoolboy when Bob Moncur hoisted the Fairs Cup above his head, and several generations of Newcastle fans since have waited in vain for a chance to celebrate a similar achievement.

Eighteen-year-old midfielder Gael Bigirimana has only been at the club for a few months, but he already knows how much the fans yearn for tangible success.

He said: "I know a little bit of the story of the club and from what I can remember, they haven't won any cups for quite a long time.

"For any club, that's what the fans want, the fans want a trophy - the Capital One Cup, the FA Cup, the Europa League, whatever, the Premier League, they just want a cup just to get that feeling of winning something.

"It would just lift up the place. It's a hard challenge, but we are here, that's our job, we have got to provide that."

The Magpies head for Old Trafford having drawn there in the Barclays Premier League last season, albeit with the help of a generous penalty award.

However, there was nothing fortunate about their 3-0 home win over Sir Alex Ferguson's men on Tyneside in January.

Pardew, who is certain to make changes again, said: "I think he's still, knowing Alex, smarting from that and he will be looking to put that right on Wednesday, so we will need to be on our toes.

"I watched the game against Liverpool and I don't think United were at their best and that's dangerous, to play United when they haven't played well and won at a place like Liverpool.

"We are on our guard and we will go and hope to play well ourselves."

PA

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Caption competition
Caption competition
News in pictures
World news in pictures
Sport blogs

iBet: Back Spain to shut out Tahiti

The spread betting firms are very slow about pricing up this game and you can understand why. All th...

by Gareth Purnell

iBet: Look To The Lady In The Prince Of Wales

The Prince of Wales Stakes today is regarded by many as the No1 race of the Royal Ascot meeting and ...

by Gareth Purnell

iBet: Favourites have a good record in the Coventry stakes

Today’s St James Palace looks a cracker and there has been sustained money for Dawn Approach since t...

by Gareth Purnell

       
 

Day In a Page

Babies behind bars: A Palestinian fertility doctor has become an unlikely hero by helping women conceive – even though their husbands are in jail

Babies behind bars

A Palestinian fertility doctor has become an unlikely hero by helping women conceive – even though their husbands are in jail
Sonic youth: The high-pitched sound alarm for under 25s

Sonic youth: The high-pitched sound alarm

Is Mosquito, the alarm only under-25s can hear, a blessing or a bane?
The art of living in small spaces: Architects are learning how to make less, more

The art of living in small spaces

Space in cities at a premium so architects are learning how to make less, more...
Special report: The story of Sir Mervyn King's reign at the Bank

The story of Sir Mervyn King's reign at the Bank

After four 'nice' years as Governor of Bank of England, things turned decisively nasty
Zombie nation: Our enduring fascination with a world full of death and destruction

Zombie nation: Our fascination with death and destruction

A new season of shows on Radio 4 is inspired by dark tales of future dystopias. Meanwhile, zombies are marauding in the multiplexes...
Martin Stephen: 'Ofsted says comprehensives are failing the most able but teaching bright children isn't rocket science'

'Teaching bright children isn't rocket science'

It doesn't take a selective system to nurture the best minds, says a former head of St Paul's boys' school.
The retail empires strike back: Can new technology lure us back to the high street?

Can technology lure us back to the high street?

The high street has been bruised and battered by online firms but in-store technology is helping to enliven the retail experience...
The 10 Best new smartphones

The 10 Best new smartphones

Photos, films, music, apps and browsing - the latest mobiles can do it all
Jenson Button: Downbeat driver cannot wait to put season behind him

Jenson Button: Downbeat driver cannot wait to put season behind him

McLaren man admits 'failed gamble' with car has left him pinning hopes on 2014 campaign
James Lawton: Firmer fist will be required to win Champions Trophy final battle with stouter foe

James Lawton

Firmer fist will be required to win Champions Trophy final battle with stouter foe
'To farm I have to rape the countryside. It’s got to be wrong': The true effect of the badger cull

The true effect of the badger cull

'To farm I have to rape the countryside. It’s got to be wrong'
Theatre review: Daniel Radcliffe gives an admirably honest performance in Michael Grandage's The Cripple of Inishmaan

First night: The Cripple of Inishmaan

Daniel Radcliffe gives an admirably honest performance in Michael Grandage's comedy
Girls Guides drop religious reference but pledge to self and the Queen

Guides drop religious reference but pledge to self and the Queen

After 103 years, organisation changes oath to welcome 'all girls, of all faiths, and none'
Steve Tongue: Joe Kinnear was one of the boys and a breath of fresh air... 21 years ago

Steve Tongue

Joe Kinnear was one of the boys and a breath of fresh air... 21 years ago
Chris Froome: Free from 'pain in neck' after Bradley Wiggins' exit

Chris Froome: Free from 'pain in neck' after Wiggins' exit

Sky's lead rider says he is in fantastic form for the Tour and happy pecking order debate is over