When a club gets an injection of multi-millions these days, rival fans soothe themselves by pointing out that you can’t buy history. Manchester City have become used to that sneer over the years, though Cityzens supporters rightly point out they’d won titles and trophies in decades gone by. But modern fans have a “what have you done for me lately?” outlook and Newcastle United have suffered for it too. Potless since the 1960s, unless you count the Intertoto Cup, the modern Magpies have had very little to hang their hats on. Until now.
Since the injection of Saudi PIF cash, Newcastle have improved immeasurably and unsurprisingly. But there was still a fear, even among their own fanbase, that their Champions League adventure had come too soon. The idea they would become the group whipping boys was exacerbated when they saw their actual group. Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund was far from a soft landing from a club who was battling relegation two years ago.
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The Magpies have played two games so far and have garnered four points. A steady point in a 0-0 at the San Siro demonstrated that they could handle themselves. But there were still fears that former finalists PSG could do a number on them. Instead, Newcastle now have a signature victory to hang their new era on.
Eddie Howe’s side ran out 4-1 winners against the Ligue 1 champions. Not only that, but they did so with three goalscorers having played for the club before the PIF takeover. Footballers who had once looked nervously at the abyss of possible relegation now carved up a side who boasts the best player in the world, Kylian Mbappe.
Sean Longstaff, a Newcastle-born lad who Manchester United fans once turned their noses up at when he came close to joining, got on the scoresheet. So too Fabian Schar, the veteran defender playing his 151st game for the club. Miguel Almiron, a mercurial talent who flits between whipping boy and talisman, rightly put himself into club folklore too. Even Dan Burn, the only post-PIF signing to score, was a player you feel they could have attained before the Gulf riches.
But that’s what Howe has created with this Newcastle side. Despite the bottomless pit of cash, this is not an expensive team of strangers. Ironically, PSG have often looked like exactly that over the years before pivoting in strategic terms this summer to a more collegiate model. But Newcastle proved they are further along in that race. While the French team are battling to become a cohesive club, the Magpies have been working to become one for the last two years. That work is clearly paying off.
Reputations aren’t made on one result alone. But such statement wins can be the foundations upon which they are built. Four points from two Champions League games in the toughest group this season is a phenomenal start. Of course Newcastle cannot rest on their laurels. PSG are a wounded animal now and will fight hard. Borussia Dortmund too, with just one point to show from their opening two games, will be on a mission now. Milan meanwhile have two draws but also haven’t conceded a goal. The 4-1 is a moment that will live on in club history, but it should be treated as just a step on the road to even bigger things.
For now though, Magpies fans can relish every morsel of a truly wonderful European night. These occasions felt a long way off over the last 20 years, where the Championship logo has adorned their shirt sleeves more often than the Champions League badge. A club with no history? That was always a laughable claim. But now Newcastle are back in the business of making history.
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