Newcastle United favourite David Ginola has insisted the pressure is off them for the Champions League, as the fact they are even there is “already madness”.
The former winger has been speaking in comments relayed by Onze Mondial ahead of Newcastle’s clash with Paris Saint Germain at St James’ Park tomorrow.
The game will be their first in the competition for 20 years, with their last home fixture in the CL coming all the way back in March 2003.
They made their return to the European elite last month, picking up a point in their opening game against AC Milan at the San Siro.
The pressure is mostly off Eddie Howe’s side in the competition, having been drawn in arguably one of the toughest groups alongside PSG, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan.
All three of those sides are now seasoned Champions League veterans and thus few are insisting that Newcastle must make it beyond the group stages at the first time of asking.
Ginola, though, has suggested that it doesn’t really matter, as the fact that they are even in the competition is madness itself.
“It was already madness when the club validated its qualification for the Champions League,” he said.
“It was an incredible joy because most people in Newcastle have never left this city. It is through football that they travel. It is a city that is changing but has never been very rich.
“The arrival of Paris is as if the Eiffel Tower was settling in Saint James’ Park!”