Eddie Howe admits he must be weary of rivals heaping more pressure on his Newcastle United team.
The last fortnight has resulted in Pep Guardiola coming out and praising the Magpies and talking up both their Champions League and title credentials. That would be a huge step up for a Newcastle team that started the calendar year in the relegation zone.
And for Howe the expectation levels externally are a new issue he must deal with. Speaking about Guardiola's comments, Howe said: "I’m not sure whether it’s an honest reflection that he’s given or whether he’s just trying to put more pressure on us. It’s difficult without the context of the interview he’s given but he’s someone I respect.
"Pep is someone I respect immensely."
Newcastle's situation at this time of year is unique and they have not been anywhere close to the top four going into the winter for a decade. So the prospect of mind games by renowned coaches like Guardiola are a new thing.
Howe said: "I think we’ve had it the other way. "We had a relegation battle this time last year, and it isn’t enjoyable to be a part of. Obviously, the end result was an enjoyable experience because we came out on the right side of it but when you’re in it, it’s very difficult to enjoy it.
"We’re trying to savour what we’re doing at the moment and enjoy the process of going into the next game in a healthy position but as we know in football, there are no guarantees. As I said right at the start, things can change very quickly. "So let’s enjoy what we’re doing and focus on trying to achieve more in the future."
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