Eddie Howe used Erik ten Hag’s words as motivation to fuel the fire in his Newcastle side as they went on to beat Manchester United.
Ten Hag described the Magpies as “annoying” before their Carabao Cup Final meeting in February, suggesting that they purposely slow down games.
Man United went on to win the final but were beaten in the league fixture back in April that all-but secured Newcastle’s place in the Champions League.
Newcastle are the latest club to be given the All or Nothing treatment as four episodes documenting the club’s 2022/2023 campaign are set to come to Amazon Prime and one clip of Howe’s inspirational team talks before that night at St James’ Park has been used in the trailer.
Speaking to his side, he said: “My final message today, I’m going to do something that I rarely do but I felt upon hearing the comments, I needed to relay it to you.
“So comments from their manager [Ten Hag]: ‘They have the lowest ball in play time in the league and are quite successful at slowing the game down.
“‘It’s an annoying team to play against so we have to find a way to play against them. So it’s up to us that we get the speed in the game, and we are also dependent on the refereeing as well.’
“Why am I telling you that? If they want a quick game, coming here, let’s f***ing give it to them, let’s be intense in every action that we do, let’s make it a quick game. Let’s go!”
His words proved fruitful as goals from Joe Willock and Callum Wilson secured them the three points as they went on to finish fourth in the Premier League.
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