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Alan Pardew confident ahead of 'biggest week' of Newcastle tenure Alan Pardew confident ahead of 'biggest week' of Newcastle tenure
(6 months later)
Alan Pardew has acknowledged that Newcastle United are approaching a potential watershed.Alan Pardew has acknowledged that Newcastle United are approaching a potential watershed.
Despite reaching the quarter-finals of the Europa League and improving appreciably since signing five players from France's Ligue 1 in January, the club remain only three points above the relegation zone. They are at home to Fulham on Sunday with their manager anxious to secure a pressure-relieving victory ahead of next weekend's derby with Paolo Di Canio's similarly struggling Sunderland at St James' Park.Despite reaching the quarter-finals of the Europa League and improving appreciably since signing five players from France's Ligue 1 in January, the club remain only three points above the relegation zone. They are at home to Fulham on Sunday with their manager anxious to secure a pressure-relieving victory ahead of next weekend's derby with Paolo Di Canio's similarly struggling Sunderland at St James' Park.
"I am confident we have the ability in the squad to get ourselves into a position where we are still a Premier League side next season," said Pardew, whose team played well for long periods but still ended up losing 3-1 at Benfica in Thursday night's Europa League quarter-final first leg."I am confident we have the ability in the squad to get ourselves into a position where we are still a Premier League side next season," said Pardew, whose team played well for long periods but still ended up losing 3-1 at Benfica in Thursday night's Europa League quarter-final first leg.
"We are going to be under pressure against Fulham and we are going to have to cope with it," he added. "Then we switch back to the Europa League and try to climb what will be a difficult hill, not what I would call a mountain but a decent hill, against Benfica in the second leg on Thursday.""We are going to be under pressure against Fulham and we are going to have to cope with it," he added. "Then we switch back to the Europa League and try to climb what will be a difficult hill, not what I would call a mountain but a decent hill, against Benfica in the second leg on Thursday."
Paradoxically, Pardew regards the defeat in Lisbon as a morale booster. "I think we have actually gained confidence from the way we played," he said. "When you go away from Benfica, beaten 3-1 and you are really disappointed because we have gifted them two goals, you have got to take that into the next game. We caused Benfica some problems and Papiss Cissé in particular was a threat all night."Paradoxically, Pardew regards the defeat in Lisbon as a morale booster. "I think we have actually gained confidence from the way we played," he said. "When you go away from Benfica, beaten 3-1 and you are really disappointed because we have gifted them two goals, you have got to take that into the next game. We caused Benfica some problems and Papiss Cissé in particular was a threat all night."
Momentum is a buzzword in football at present and Pardew trusts Newcastle have acquired some in Portugal. "Momentum will be key for the whole of next week," said a manager who attempted to minimise fatigue by keeping his players in Lisbon on Thursday night rather than flying them home during the early hours of Friday morning. "It's important we get ourselves in a real positive place. It is a big week in terms of the season, for sure, and we need to win games. It is one of the biggest weeks in my period here."Momentum is a buzzword in football at present and Pardew trusts Newcastle have acquired some in Portugal. "Momentum will be key for the whole of next week," said a manager who attempted to minimise fatigue by keeping his players in Lisbon on Thursday night rather than flying them home during the early hours of Friday morning. "It's important we get ourselves in a real positive place. It is a big week in terms of the season, for sure, and we need to win games. It is one of the biggest weeks in my period here."
He hopes Dimitar Berbatov, Fulham's key striker, does not ruin it. "There's no reason why we can't show our strength on the pitch at Fulham," said Pardew. "It's an important game for us, no doubt about that and we have to make sure we take care of Berbatov. He's a great player who can cause us a lot of problems."He hopes Dimitar Berbatov, Fulham's key striker, does not ruin it. "There's no reason why we can't show our strength on the pitch at Fulham," said Pardew. "It's an important game for us, no doubt about that and we have to make sure we take care of Berbatov. He's a great player who can cause us a lot of problems."
It does not help that injuries continue to deprive Newcastle of a raft of influential individuals including Hatem Ben Arfa, Mathieu Debuchy, Fabricio Coloccini and, almost certainly on Sunday, Cheik Tioté.It does not help that injuries continue to deprive Newcastle of a raft of influential individuals including Hatem Ben Arfa, Mathieu Debuchy, Fabricio Coloccini and, almost certainly on Sunday, Cheik Tioté.
Davide Santon, Newcastle's left back, is well aware that he and his team-mates are playing for high stakes. "The Europa League is important," said the Italy international. "But the Premier League is even more important. We know we have to win our next two games against Fulham and Sunderland."Davide Santon, Newcastle's left back, is well aware that he and his team-mates are playing for high stakes. "The Europa League is important," said the Italy international. "But the Premier League is even more important. We know we have to win our next two games against Fulham and Sunderland."
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