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.
‘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
Read on m.allfootballapp.com