Eddie Howe said he has a “fear of failure” as Newcastle face Paris Saint-Germain in their “defining moment” in the Champions League at Parc des Princes on Tuesday.
Newcastle will be eliminated from the competition if they lose their Group F clash against Luis Enrique’s team in the French capital, despite an impressive start which saw them claim four points from their first two games, including a 4-1 win against PSG at St James’ Park.
An injury crisis and Sandro Tonali‘s 10-month suspension for breaching betting regulations have left Newcastle, who are bottom of the group, without 11 first-team players against PSG.
But speaking at his prematch news conference in Paris, Newcastle manager Howe said that his players have no option but to “play on the edge” in a game that will shape their hopes of reaching the knockout stages.
“We need to play on the edge,” Howe said. “Every team is at their best when they have that emotion running through them and we need that energy because this is the defining moment of our Champions League campaign.
“We are fully aware of where we are and what we need to do. Our defensive structure and resilience has been good this season, so we need it to be every ounce as good as that against PSG.
“Fear of failure is a motivating factor in my career — losing doesn’t sit comfortably, no matter what the occasion and of course that applies to this game.