Newcastle United will look to get their bid to qualify for the Champions League back on track this weekend, and Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui still believes the Magpies are in the mix to finish in the top four.
Lopetegui takes his Wolves side to St James’ Park on Sunday, as he looks to build on last week’s impressive win over Tottenham Hotspur.
Adama Traore scored the only goal of the game at Molineux to boost Wolves’ survival aspirations, while it also did Newcastle a favour. It means Spurs are still within reach, with Eddie Howe’s side capable of leapfrogging them if they win their games in hand.
But Newcastle’s primary focus will be getting a result against Wolves on Sunday. Howe needs to find a way to end his side’s barren run, with the Magpies winning just one of their previous eight Premier League outings.
Despite this poor run of form, Lopetegui is still massively wary of the Magpies, and believes they are ‘one of the strongest teams in the Premier League’.
Julen Lopetegui full of praise for Newcastle
The Wolves manager spoke to the media ahead of this weekend’s game, and heaped praise on Newcastle.
“I think we’re going to play against one of the strongest teams in the Premier League,” he said.
“They have a fantastic squad, very good players and a very good coach. They play with one very clear style, rhythm with and without the ball.
“They are ready to fight for the Champions League, but in the same way we are going to go there with ambition and thinking we are able to compete with them and beat them. This is our aim, for sure. I think we are going to play a very hard match, but in the same way a very exciting match for us.”
Newcastle still seen as a major threat
Lopetegui is incredibly complimentary about Newcastle, and still believes that Howe’s side are in the race to qualify for the Champions League.
Our top four credentials will be put to the test this weekend against a strong Wolves side that have improved massively since the arrival of Lopetegui. He has had an incredible impact at Molineux, and it is going to be a very tough game on Sunday.
But it is the type of game that we need to win. We need a response after recent disappointments. We lost our unbeaten run, were beaten at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final then lost to Manchester City.
This is Newcastle’s opportunity to bounce back, but Lopetegui is very aware of the threats we will pose.
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