Howe hails Mourinho’s ‘aura’ ahead of CL clash
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has hailed José Mourinho as one of football’s all-time greats as he prepares to face the Portuguese coach’s Benfica side in the Champions League at St James’ Park on Tuesday night.
The meeting brings together two managers at contrasting stages of their careers: Mourinho, 62, with 26 major trophies to his name, and Howe, 47, guiding Newcastle through a challenging group stage after an opening defeat to Barcelona and a 4–0 win at Union Saint-Gilloise.
Speaking ahead of the fixture, Howe said Mourinho’s achievements across Europe command universal respect. “I think you have to consider him one of the greats,” Howe said. “The impact he made initially was incredible. He had an aura around him and his teams were always so difficult to beat.”
Howe recalled studying Mourinho’s Chelsea sides early in his own coaching journey. “When I was just starting out, I watched how his teams played, how they were structured,” he added. “He had a big influence on the way I thought about coaching.”
Mourinho’s visit to Tyneside carries added sentiment given his connection to the late Sir Bobby Robson, under whom he worked at Sporting Lisbon, Porto, and Barcelona. However, St James’ Park has rarely been kind to him — just three wins from 12 visits with Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham.
Howe holds fond memories of his sole victory against Mourinho, a 1–0 win with Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge in 2015. “That was a special moment for me as a young Premier League manager,” he said. “It gave us belief that we could compete at that level.”
Despite the nostalgia, Howe emphasized the importance of Tuesday’s game for Newcastle’s qualification hopes. “We know how vital our home games are,” he said. “After the disappointment of Barcelona, we’re desperate to perform here.”
The Magpies face late fitness concerns over midfielder Sandro Tonali, who missed training through illness and is a doubt for selection. Lewis Miley and Jacob Ramsey are potential replacements.
Mourinho, meanwhile, expressed admiration for the atmosphere at St James’ Park and Newcastle’s recent resurgence. “Even as an opponent, it’s beautiful to play here,” he said. “The passion, the history, the power of this club—it’s fantastic. They’ve come through difficult times and are now competing again at the top level.”
Benfica, bottom of the group after defeats to Qarabag and Chelsea, arrive under pressure to revive their campaign. For Mourinho, it is another European night at one of England’s most atmospheric grounds; for Howe, a chance to underline Newcastle’s growing presence among Europe’s elite.