Alexander Isak says Newcastle’s European ambitions have been turbo charged - and insist Eddie Howe’s team can compete with the elite.
The Sweden international hopes to shoot down Leicester on Monday night and gather the one point the Geordies need to secure a top four finish. Eddie Howe admits that the initial aim this season was “keep improving” his side from their 11th placed finish last term after their relegation scare.
Instead they have hit new levels of fitness and intensity which has rocketed the club to unexpected heights. Howe said: “It was about not being involved in a relegation battle. It was trying to be a stable Premier League team with a view on improving each year, and get to where we are now.
“That was our plan. When you’ve been fighting relegation like we were last year, you don’t expect to go from there to there in one pre-season. Full credit to the players for what they’ve done.”
So how will United cope against the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. Record signing Isak arrived at the end of August for £54m, from Real Sociedad, and after an injury hit start has excelled lately - including his amazing dribble and assist against Everton.
Isak said: “When I signed I knew it was a good project, and I knew the club’s goals. But it has come quickly. The job isn’t finished, but we have got ourselves in a great position to achieve something for this club. We have to finish it, stay focused.
“We all have (the Champions League ) in the back of our heads. We have to be realistic, the job is not finished. We have to get there now. We know what we are fighting for and how close it is. The job needs to be done.
“They told me the ambition was to become a big club and to fight for something. Since I came I felt that. Already we have done some great things. We have to reach our goal now, so it means something. I think what we aim for and what the club wants is great and we are on a good path.”
Isak scored against Barcelona earlier in the season, and is convinced Newcastle can compete on their travels next season. He added: “If we get there, yes. I don’t want to talk too much about it yet. As a player you have to focus on what is important and we are still in this season.
“When I came here I didn’t feel questioned. I felt backed. I was confident and I liked the project and that is all what mattered. It is a big club, but we can achieve more in terms of achievements and getting further in tables and tournaments, but Newcastle is a massive club.
“You don’t go round in the summer saying we are going to do this or that. You take it by getting off to a good start and as the season goes on you aim step by step. Now we are in a great position and now we can say we need that Champions League spot.”
Howe is ready to kick on next term and says being a boss is a relentless treadmill.
He added: “Everyone will say, 'That's a great achievement'; all I can think of is that next challenge coming and then being prepared for that next challenge because you can't sit back and say, 'Right, I'm going to take a month off and go and relax on a beach'.
“It's the opposite, it's 'Okay how can we best now succeed in that next phase?', so it is very much you're always on a cycle of trying to improve.”
