01 March 2024 , 10:29
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Eddie Howe has hit back at claims Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann could take his job this summer.
The United chief has vowed to fight to fulfil his big ambitions on Tyneside, amid a run of poor league form. Newcastle have won 11 points in their last 12 league games, and Nagelsmann was linked with wanting the job after the Euros in the summer.
Thomas Tuchel and Jose Mourinho are also thought to be interested. Howe says his future will be determined by his own success or failure, but admitted “we know we are running out of chances” to make this season a glorious one.
Howe addressed the situation head on today and said: “Genuinely it doesn’t affect me. I’m here. I’m sat in the seat. My future will be defined by what I do, no one else.”
Asked if his job was off limits in the summer managerial merry-go-round, Howe said: “It’s up to me to continually prove. I back myself and my ability. I know my qualities. I know what I bring to the job and I have ambitions for the team and the club and I can’t control what people write and what speculation there is in every sense. I don’t try to get involved in it.”
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Newcastle bombed out of the Champions League at the group stage and are tenth in the Premier League fighting to stay in European qualifying contention. They have drawn Manchester City away in the FA Cup last eight.
The Toon owners are said to be supportive and Howe added: “It's difficult for me to speak for them, but I have felt a support and an understanding for the season that we have had and things that have been thrown at us and things that have happened.
“That's really important from my side that I do feel that support. I'm not going to try and put words in people's mouths or anything like that, but I think they have seen from afar how difficult this season has been.
Julian Nagelsmann has been touted as a potential replacement for Howe (Getty Images)“We know we are running out of chances. We are still in there fighting. My management career has not been smooth. At the start I took on the hardest challenge I will have in the depths of League Two. It served me well. Perceived adversity and challenges, this is nothing now just on a great skill."
Howe said of Newcastle’s form: “We’re not at our fluent best but there is a lot of good. There is some frustration that we’re not quite ourselves, but I think that will come. I have no doubt, once we’re back to full strength, hopefully you’ll see the real Newcastle again.”
Howe’s side have been making bum notes on the pitch, but he’s been tinkling the ivories of his piano to switch off after training.
He is a grade one keyboard student and he said: “I was tinkling last night. I am not thinking 4-3-3, 4-4-2. I enjoy it but I am not very good. Take On Me is my preferred tune but that’s a fast one.”
Howe says he “nearly swerved off the road” when the Toon drew Man City, their latest tough draw in the cups this season.
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