Newcastle Must Grow Under Camp Nou Pressure, Urges Howe

Newcastle's head coach Eddie Howe attends a press conference in Barcelona, Spain, 17 March 2026. (EPA)
Newcastle's head coach Eddie Howe attends a press conference in Barcelona, Spain, 17 March 2026. (EPA)
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Newcastle Must Grow Under Camp Nou Pressure, Urges Howe

Newcastle's head coach Eddie Howe attends a press conference in Barcelona, Spain, 17 March 2026. (EPA)
Newcastle's head coach Eddie Howe attends a press conference in Barcelona, Spain, 17 March 2026. (EPA)

Newcastle coach Eddie Howe on Tuesday called on his players to grow rather than shrink under the lights at Camp Nou when they face Barcelona in the Champions League last 16.

The Premier League club outplayed the Spanish champions in the last 16 first leg, but a late Lamine Yamal penalty to snatch a 1-1 draw last week on Tyneside.

Newcastle, aiming to reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in the club's history, know the challenge will be different on Wednesday at the home of the five-time winners.

"I don't think they will (be overawed), we've got an experienced group, we've got many players who have played in so many big games now we've become accustomed to it," Howe said.

"You almost want that size of the game to lift the players and to make us grow -- certainly we can't shrink -- but with many, many internationals within the squad I don't see that as an issue.

"It's just making sure from my side that we get the plan right, they've got a lot of dangerous players that we need to deal with."

Newcastle are ninth in the Premier League in a frustrating campaign, but Howe said the club are in their best moment of the season.

"(The players) are the happiest they have been throughout the season, it's been one of a lot of change... early season we struggled to find our rhythm, our relationships in the team were new," continued Howe.

"Their confidence was affected slightly. We worked really hard to try and bring some stability to the team."

"In the last few weeks we've returned to a really good flow. It's been a much better feel, better individual performances in return, better collective performances."

Newcastle beat Chelsea 1-0 on Saturday with a strong defensive display, which Howe said the team would have to draw from against the likes of Raphinha and teenage star Yamal.

"You have to be optimistic and you have to be positive, and that's why the Chelsea result and performance was so important," explained Howe.

"We proved to ourselves that we can defend our goal really well... I think we're as good a place as we've been at any stage this season, both on and off the pitch.

"We had to be in this position to give ourselves the best chance, and now we're just putting it over the line."

Barcelona beat Newcastle 2-1 in the league phase at St James' Park before last week's draw, but Newcastle defender Kieran Trippier said his team were on a high heading into the clash against the La Liga leaders.

"Yeah, we feel really confident, (although) I think we've had a mixed season," Trippier told reporters.

"There's a really good feeling around the place, so we come here calm and relaxed, looking forward to the game tomorrow, it's a big opportunity, and we know the rewards are going to be there if we put in a good performance."

Howe said the game at Camp Nou was "probably" the biggest of his career and Trippier defended his coach against some criticism he has received this term.

"I have great respect for what he's done for this football club, he's remarkable," added the defender.



Michael Carrick Keen to Balance Short-term Success with Building for the Future

Man Utd manager Michael Carrick looks on during the English Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Manchester United in London, Britain, 18 April 2026.  EPA/ANDY RAIN
Man Utd manager Michael Carrick looks on during the English Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Manchester United in London, Britain, 18 April 2026. EPA/ANDY RAIN
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Michael Carrick Keen to Balance Short-term Success with Building for the Future

Man Utd manager Michael Carrick looks on during the English Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Manchester United in London, Britain, 18 April 2026.  EPA/ANDY RAIN
Man Utd manager Michael Carrick looks on during the English Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Manchester United in London, Britain, 18 April 2026. EPA/ANDY RAIN

Manchester United interim head coach Michael Carrick said the rapid turnover of managers in the Premier League will not affect how he approaches the job and he remains focused on the bigger picture at the club rather than his own future.

Liam Rosenior's departure from Chelsea on Wednesday marked the 10th managerial casualty in England's top flight this season.

Carrick, who took over ⁠at United in ⁠January following the sacking of Ruben Amorim, said there was a balance to be struck between short-term success and building for the future.

"There are two sides to it," the 44-year-old told ⁠reporters on Thursday, according to Reuters.

"There are instant results and the next game being important, but there's definitely a responsibility, our thinking of what the future looks like and the bigger picture.

"There are all sorts of what-ifs in this world. Half full, half empty? I like to live my life in a positive way. I don't think ⁠of ⁠what could go wrong, that doesn't come into it. It's what can be achieved. What success looks like."

United have impressed under Carrick, winning eight and drawing two of their 12 matches to sit third in the league. Six points from their remaining five games would secure Champions League qualification after a two-year absence.

United next face Brentford on Monday.


Madrid Open Sets Up Practice Court, Nadal Trains with Courtois and Bellingham

FILE - The crowd watch Norway's Casper Ruud playing against Spain's Rafael Nadal on the court Philippe Chatrier, known as center court, during their final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium on June 5, 2022 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)
FILE - The crowd watch Norway's Casper Ruud playing against Spain's Rafael Nadal on the court Philippe Chatrier, known as center court, during their final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium on June 5, 2022 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)
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Madrid Open Sets Up Practice Court, Nadal Trains with Courtois and Bellingham

FILE - The crowd watch Norway's Casper Ruud playing against Spain's Rafael Nadal on the court Philippe Chatrier, known as center court, during their final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium on June 5, 2022 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)
FILE - The crowd watch Norway's Casper Ruud playing against Spain's Rafael Nadal on the court Philippe Chatrier, known as center court, during their final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium on June 5, 2022 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)

Rafael Nadal was back on a tennis court — one inside Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium — on Thursday.

The Madrid Open set up the temporary court on the Bernabeu field and players will be allowed to practice on it until April 30.

The retired Nadal, an avid Madrid fan, is the most successful player at the Madrid Open, having won the tournament five times.

He partnered with Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in a friendly session against world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham, The Associated Press reported.

Bellingham was at the Madrid Open on Wednesday watching young Spanish sensation Rafael Jódar win in his debut at the tournament. The Madrid Open is being played at the Caja Magica tennis complex in the Spanish capital.

“It was very special to enjoy this unique court at the Bernabeu,” Nadal wrote on Instagram.

Iga Swiatek, ranked No. 4 on the women's tour, also was at the Bernabeu event.


US Says Does Not Object to Iran Playing in World Cup but People with IRGC Ties Won't be Allowed

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio listens as US President Donald Trump speaks to the media in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 23 April 2026. EPA/WILL OLIVER / POOL
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio listens as US President Donald Trump speaks to the media in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 23 April 2026. EPA/WILL OLIVER / POOL
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US Says Does Not Object to Iran Playing in World Cup but People with IRGC Ties Won't be Allowed

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio listens as US President Donald Trump speaks to the media in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 23 April 2026. EPA/WILL OLIVER / POOL
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio listens as US President Donald Trump speaks to the media in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 23 April 2026. EPA/WILL OLIVER / POOL

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday Washington had no objections to Iranian players participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup but he added the players will not be allowed to bring with them people with ties to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

"Nothing from the US has told them they can't come," Rubio told reporters, according to Reuters. President Donald Trump also said his administration "would not want to affect the athletes" in comments he made at the White House.

The 2026 soccer World ⁠Cup is set ⁠to begin on June 11 across the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Paolo Zampolli, a Trump envoy who has no official connection with the World Cup, had earlier suggested that Italy should replace Iran at the tournament.

"The problem with Iran would be not their athletes. ⁠It would be some of the other people they would want to bring with them, some of whom have ties to the IRGC. We may not be able to let them in but not the athletes themselves," Rubio said.

"They can't bring a bunch of IRGC terrorists into our country and pretend that they are journalists and athletic trainers," Rubio added. Washington has designated the IRGC as a "foreign terrorist organization."

Currently there is no suggestion Iran ⁠will withdraw ⁠or be banned from the tournament that Italy missed out on. After the start of the Iran war, Iran requested that FIFA move the team's three group matches from the US to Mexico, which was rejected.