Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe defended Sandro Tonali amid agent speculation during a press conference before the Champions League last-16 second leg against Barcelona. He highlighted Tonali's commitment and praised Kieran Trippier's experience from his time at Atletico Madrid. The tie stands at 1-1 after the first leg at St James' Park.
Eddie Howe spoke at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, ahead of Wednesday's Champions League last-16 second leg at the Camp Nou against Barcelona. The first leg ended in a 1-1 draw at St James' Park, leaving the outcome finely balanced. The Newcastle boss addressed recent comments from Tonali's agent suggesting the midfielder might see the club as a stepping stone to a bigger move. Howe urged those around the club to 'forget the noise' surrounding the Italian, who joined from AC Milan and overcame a betting ban early in his tenure. 'At the moment, the person that matters the most in this is Sandro. So I prefer to take my lead from him,' Howe said. 'All I’ve ever seen from Sandro is someone who’s totally committed, very much part of the team, very selfless at times. He’s here for the team.' He added that Tonali showed 'real strength of character' after his difficult start and remains 'fully committed,' though the player has been ill recently and his fitness will be assessed after training. Howe reserved special praise for right-back Kieran Trippier, who spent three and a half years at Atletico Madrid. The veteran has shared insights from his Spanish football experience with teammates and coaches. 'Kieran always speaks and always has a few words to say, in a really positive way,' Howe noted. 'He’s been a great leader... He has invaluable experiences of this league.' Trippier's leadership has been crucial amid injuries to the back line. Facing a selection dilemma with players like Anthony Gordon eager to feature, Howe acknowledged the challenge. 'I’ve got the tough decision to select 11 players out of the players that we have, and that’s going to be a tough call,' he said, encouraging substitutes to make an impact.
