They’ll always have Paris. They’ll have the glorious memories of hammering Paris Saint-Germain 4-1 at home, but Newcastle will also have the fury and frustration of the injury-time penalty at the Parc des Princes two weeks ago. It was that decision, a cross flicking off Tino Livramento’s torso and on to his arm as he chased back, that they will feel, far more than defeat by Milan, eliminated them from Europe.
In time, perhaps, there will be a feeling that a slender squad will benefit from the free midweeks later in the season. In the long run, in terms of qualifying for next season’s Champions League, which will be essential for attracting the highest tier of talent to the club, this may be for the best. But it will be a while before the disappointment fades, and the sense of being cheated.
Calmer heads may point out that PSG should have had one penalty and might have had another that night before the contentious one they were given, but history suggests that fans’ sense of injustice rarely fades over time.
The perception of an external enemy is no bad thing from a motivational point of view, however tedious the rest of the world may find the construction of a siege mentality, but there are questions to be asked of Eddie Howe and his side. There will be talk of a lack of European experience and having to learn the nature of the competition, of being a fourth seed and the difficulty of the draw, all of which has some merit. But equally Newcastle frittered points.
They were weirdly insipid in Milan and Dortmund – a problem of away form that stretches into the Premier League. They were a touch unlucky at home against Dortmund as Callum Wilson and Anthony Gordon both hit the bar. But amid all the other explanations and excuses there remains the fundamental point: they had to beat Milan at home to have a chance of qualifying – and would have qualified with a win given PSG failed to win in Dortmund – but despite being the better team for long periods and taking the lead, they did not.
It was startling just how dominant Newcastle were before half-time, just how poor Milan looked. They had won just two of their previous 14 away games in European competition and the lack of confidence was obvious.
A generous interpretation would be that Rafael Leão and Christian Pulisic had been instructed to stay high but, with Newcastle dominating possession, Kieran Tripper and Livramento called their bluff and wreaked havoc. It was Livramento’s advance that meant Davide Calabria felt unable to follow Gordon as he drifted infield to pick up possession in the build-up to Joelinton’s goal. Milan at that point just didn’t seem up for the fight.
But Newcastle’s control slipped in the second half. Perhaps it was the fatigue that has started to sap them; perhaps Milan had been perpetrating an elaborate rope‑a‑dope, luring Newcastle on until the lactic acid began to burn. Or perhaps it was just the general craziness of the night infecting everybody.
When Dortmund took the lead on 51 minutes, it needed a goal to go against Newcastle in both games to deny them progress. They had both arrived within eight minutes. A stadium that had been euphoric slumped.
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Clearly tired, Newcastle had to chase a winner to keep alive the possibility of reaching the last 16 of the Champions League. They nearly got it through the Bruno Guimarães shot that was pushed against the bar by Mike Maignan – but as they did so, tired as they were, vast swathes opened up in the midfield. Milan, almost despite themselves, took advantage through Samuel Chukwueze’s sumptuously taken winner, and also hit the woodwork twice.
Having missed out on third place and Europa League qualification, it’s easy to say that Newcastle have greater ambitions. But when the final in Dublin comes round in May there will be a level of regret. That, too, could have been a route into the Champions League. Qualifying again is essential. There has been misfortune in the injuries they have sustained but Newcastle need a deeper squad if they are to compete on multiple fronts. Both in terms of finance and making themselves an attractive proposition, that means Champions League football.
All the resources of Saudi Arabia can’t change that, nor can they change the fact that, in football, all teams are always at the mercy of happenstance, of referees, the bounce of the ball and the human frailty of tired legs.
