Eddie Howe has slung a return right back at Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp’s sarcastic, high-handed comments over Newcastle’s spending power and insisted the Merseyside manager money is no guarantee for success.
Klopp recently included the Magpies in a list of clubs he suggested have ’no ceiling’ due to the immense wealth at their disposal in the aftermath of the previous year’s 80 per cent Saudi PIF-backed take-over.
Newcastle’s heavy investments to the tune of around £210million in the two transfer windows since Amanda Staveley’s consortium took control at St James’ Park has gotten tongues wagging but head coach Howe has insisted money alone is not the only raison d’etre the club is currently sitting comfortably in fourth place in the Premier League table.
He said: “Money doesn’t guarantee success. It certainly helps, but it doesn’t guarantee anything. You can recruit very badly and these days, that will cost you a huge sum of money, so it’s about a mixture of things.”
Howe will have been a full year in his post on November 8 despite still being in only the early stages of his mission. saying: “Time flies. It’s incredible to think as the months have ticked by that it’s nearly led to a year for me here. We’ve enjoyed it, but it’s gone so quickly.
“I do feel there’s an element of just starting with the team and we’ve got so much more to achieve and more to do. But I if am sat here in another year’s time, I’d probably be saying exactly the same thing.”
The Magpies host Aston Villa on Saturday with the visitors’ new boss Unai Emery, fresh out of Villareal, ready to take up his duties officially next week once his visa has been sorted out.
Interestingly, Emery could easily have been the one sitting in the home dugout at St James’ Park had he taken up the club’s offer of employment before they turned to Howe, but the latter will not allow that to distract him as he attempts to guide his team to a fifth league win in six matches.
He said: “Unai is a fantastic manager with an unbelievable record in various countries in Europe especially, so I think it’s a brilliant appointment by Aston Villa.
“But for me, I’m very, very proud to be leading this team and looking forward to the challenges ahead.”