Newcastle United are copying PSG, and Ben Foster absolutely loves it

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If you are going to steal, steal from the best, and that is exactly what Newcastle United are doing.

Eddie Howe never stops looking at ways to improve his team, having showcased his tactical genius time and time again since becoming Newcastle United manager.

Newcastle are lucky to have Howe, who has been deploying a new tactic at the start of the 2025/26 season.

The Magpies have played three games so far, two of which have been away from home. In both of those games, Sandro Tonali has been given a very different role from kick-off.

The Italian midfielder has immediately launched the ball towards the opposition’s corner flag, giving away a throw-in. That allows Newcastle to try and box their opponent in and win back possession high up the pitch.

Newcastle United are copying PSG’s kick-off routine

It is a very interesting tactic, and one that Paris Saint-Germain recently used in the 2025 Champions League final.

That is not lost on Ben Foster, who has commented on Newcastle United copying PSG’s kick-off routine on his YouTube channel.

“Newcastle did it against Villa at the start of the season,” he said.

“They’ve been taking a page out of PSG’s book. Boom, straight out there for a throw-in. Get up and block it in lads. It’s as simple as that.

“Everyone is on the front-foot. He hasn’t even kicked the ball yet.”

When do Newcastle United play against PSG?

Newcastle United will play against PSG later in the season. The two sides are set to meet in the Champions League, having played against each other twice during the Magpies’ last European adventure.

Eddie Howe’s side return to Paris on 28th January 2026, on what is the final day of the Champions League league phase. It could be a pivotal night for Newcastle, as they attempt to advance to the next stage of the competition.

Given the fact it is both clubs’ last game combined with the history of Newcastle’s last game in Paris, this is going to be a mammoth encounter.

In that respect, what happens at kick-off is not majorly of interest. However, it will be intriguing to see whether or not Howe uses Luis Enrique’s tactic against him at the Parc des Princes.