Thomas Tuchel has piled the pressure on Newcastle United ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League season.
The 2024/25 campaign was one to remember for Eddie Howe’s side. Newcastle United won the Carabao Cup, then they followed that up by qualifying for the Champions League.
It was arguably Newcastle United’s best season ever, and the goal will be to continue improving when the new season kicks off.
There have even been suggestions that Newcastle could challenge for the title given how well they have performed so far in 2025.
Thomas Tuchel explains Newcastle United’s Premier League advantage
Now the England manager has suggested that the Magpies could be in the title race, with Tuchel admitting that Eddie Howe’s side have a ‘huge advantage’ ahead of next season.
That is because, unlike Manchester City and Chelsea, Newcastle United have the chance to enjoy some rest before a full pre-season due to not being in the Club World Cup.
“I think teams like Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle will have a huge advantage in next year’s title race and Premier League race,” Tuchel told TalkSPORT.
“To have this time off now. To have a halfway decent pre-season in the planning and the build-up of the physical performance of the players.”
When will pre-season start for Newcastle United?
The club are yet to confirm when the players and coaching staff will report for pre-season.
It will likely be in early July, with the Magpies’ earliest pre-season friendly currently scheduled for 19th July. Newcastle United will face Celtic at Celtic Park, with Howe looking forward to taking on Brendan Rodgers’ side.
Before pre-season commences, Howe will be keen for Newcastle to make some signings. If not, whoever arrives could be playing catch-up from a physical perspective.
But Newcastle are boosted by being able to enjoy a proper rest followed by a full pre-season. There is no international tournament this summer, while the Magpies are not involved in the Club World Cup.
Newcastle saw first-hand last year what kind of impact an international tournament can have on a player. Anthony Gordon did not have a proper pre-season, and it resulted in him enduring a slow start to the season. He was lacking sharpness, and it resulted in some poor performances.
However, that should not be the case when Newcastle United’s pre-season preparations begin later this summer.
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