Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe described the penalty decision awarded to FC Barcelona that led to the club’s equalizing goal as a soft one.
He expressed this feeling in an interview with TNT Sports after Newcastle drew 1-1 with Barcelona in the first leg of the UEFA Champions round of 16 stage.
Newcastle got the breakthrough goal in the 86th minute through Harvey Barnes but a Malick Thiaw foul in the penalty box led to Lamine Yamal scoring the equalizer in the 94th minute.
The second leg takes place at the Camp Nou on Wednesday, March 18 and Eddie Howe believes his team will be ready for the crucial tie.
“I thought we were outstanding, a really, really good performance. We kept the intensity up. The moment at the end takes that in a negative light but one of our best performances.”
“I think it-the penalty- is soft but Malick [Thiaw] makes contact. We had our shape, there’s no way we should concede that goal. We will look at it but I don’t want it to override the 93 minutes before that, in which we were quality.”
“We will be ready by the time the next game comes round. We believe in ourselves and our capability and we have shown that today” Howe said.
