Jamie Carragher insists there’s something Newcastle are going to find ‘extremely difficult’ to do under PIF

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Newcastle United’s Champions League campaign was an incredible adventure for the club, but it ended in disappointment.

After working so hard to finish in the top four of the Premier League last season, Eddie Howe and the Newcastle players were rewarded with the group of death.

The Toon Army had Champions League away days to Milan, Dortmund and Paris, while St James’ Park was treated to one of its most famous nights. That 4-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain will be remembered forever.

But for all its moments, Newcastle’s Champions League campaign ended at the first hurdle. The Magpies finished bottom of their group, and are now struggling to return to the competition.

It is going to be very difficult for Newcastle to qualify for the Champions League again, and that is something that Jamie Carragher believes Toon fans should get used to.

Jamie Carragher makes ‘extremely difficult’ Champions League claim about Newcastle

Carragher has written about Newcastle’s rise in his latest column for the Telegraph, in which he looked at the need for more clubs to challenge the ‘big six’ for trophies.

“Newcastle reached a Wembley final and secured a Champions League place last season, which again triggered predictions that they would consistently finish in the top four,” he said.

“Whatever the arguments about the source of their Saudi Arabian funding, their surge up the table made a refreshing change. It does not alter the reality that they will find it extremely difficult to persistently qualify for the Champions League.”

Jamie Carragher is right about Newcastle and the Champions League

Carragher is right. It may seem as though he is being harsh, but sometimes the truth hurts.

It was an incredible achievement to qualify for the Champions League last season, as Howe’s team defied expectations and massively overachieved.

And they certainly did not disgrace themselves in the competition. While we came bottom of our group, we very nearly made it out. We would be in the next round right now if we had beaten AC Milan on the final day.

But the Magpies have already proven this season how difficult it will be to consistently challenge for a place in the Champions League. Even with PIF’s riches, it is going to be extremely tough.

The competition at the top of the Premier League is so intense, with multiple new teams trying to wrestle their way in like Newcastle and Aston Villa. And it was not too long ago that the ‘big six’ was just the ‘big four’.

Being in the Champions League was amazing this season, but it is hard to see how it will become a regular occurrence.