Newcastle United have a long way to go in Europe.
Indeed, while few would doubt Newcastle gave a good showing of themselves through a particularly difficult Champions League group stage campaign, it doesn’t necessarily help soften the blow.
Eddie Howe’s side threw the game away against AC Milan on Wednesday, losing despite taking the lead and duly falling out of all European competition for the season.
It proved a pretty sour end to a European journey that had, at times at least, offered so much promise.
Thankfully, the club have ambitious owners in PIF. An early exit is a short-term blow for a long-term project and it seems decision-makers at St James’ Park have eyes on emulating one of the world’s biggest clubs.
Newcastle latest news: PIF have Real Madrid plan
According to iNews, Newcastle have plans to emulate Real Madrid.
The Spanish giants are said to be who PIF have their eyes on as an example.
They are, of course, European royalty and catching them in terms of a trophy haul will surely take generations.
Still, regularly challenging for major honours and becoming a fixture of the furniture in the Champions League, however, looks a more realistic aim for the years to come.
Newcastle: Champions League battle back on
As the dust settled on the Milan defeat, Howe spoke of the need to shift the focus back onto Newcastle’s Premier League campaign.
Though playing fewer games will surely keep the team fresher towards the back end of the League campaign, it’s difficult to see how much changes in the short-term.
Newcastle remain poor on the road and without key players, with Kieran Trippier seemingly adding to the injury worries by limping off against Milan.
If they cannot improve their away form and big names continue to miss games, even getting back into the Champions League looks a very tall order.
Madrid offer a very good blueprint but, right now, the club feel very far away from it.
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