Newcastle United’s recent 2-0 win against Manchester United has left Sven Botman convinced that the club will finish in the top four of the Premier League. The victory saw Eddie Howe’s side leapfrog their rivals into third place, thanks to goals from Joe Willock and Callum Wilson at St. James’ Park. While both sides are out of the title race with Manchester City 14 points ahead and Arsenal a further eight, qualifying for next season’s Champions League is still a possibility.
Tottenham can jump ahead of both Newcastle and Manchester United with a win over Everton on Monday, but will have played two games more. Brighton, Liverpool, and Fulham are similarly disadvantaged. Newcastle currently has the fewest goals conceded in England’s top flight with 19 in 27 games, while they’ve now earned a 13th clean sheet of the season, thanks to Botman.
Not only was the defender delighted with the performance, but also the fact it came against United, who they lost the Carabao Cup final to in February. Speaking to Viaplay post-match, the Dutchman stood alongside countryman Frank de Boer and said: “We are convinced that we will qualify for Champions League football. This feels really good. When I look back on that lost League Cup final, this feels extra good.”
Botman added: “There is no secret. We do it as a team. I’ve never seen everyone so clearly working on the same plan. It is very difficult for our opponents to get through. We really do it together on this team. Our trainer is also very important. Eddie Howe is very demanding but knows how to get qualities out of players that they didn’t even know they were capable of. That belief in your own abilities is very important.”
Eddie Howe was later filmed telling his players how proud he was of the work they put in, in a video that was shared on social media. However, it was a different feeling in the away dressing room, with Luke Shaw revealing that Manchester United’s teammates had a frank discussion about what went wrong.
In conclusion, Newcastle United’s recent win against Manchester United has left them in a strong position to qualify for next season’s Champions League. With the fewest goals conceded in England’s top flight and a strong team spirit, the club is well-positioned to achieve their goals. Eddie Howe’s leadership and ability to bring out the best in his players will be crucial in the coming weeks and months.