Money wasn’t the only reason for Newcastle United’s Premier League survival says Eddie Howe
- Seb Sternik
- 16 May 2022
Any suggestion that Newcastle United bought their way out of the relegation fight was played down by manager Eddie Howe.
When the former Bournemouth boss took over the Magpies, the club was winless, sat 19th in the Premier League table and had a mere five points to their name.
However, following the Saudi-backed takeover of the club, Newcastle went on a £90million spending spree during the January transfer window - one which included the signings of Kieran Trippier, Chris Wood and Bruno Guimaraes.
With fresh tools to his disposal, Howe went about delivering results. The 44-year-old led the Magpies to 10 wins from 14 games in the Premier League - a run which moved the club well away from the relegation zone.
While Howe admits that January's transfer business helped his cause, he has played down the idea that money was solely responsible for the team's achievements.
He said: "The easy thing is to talk about money. It is not what has got us here.
"January helped massively and the money helped the team, and the players who came in made a huge difference. But I don't think it was the reason we did very well.
"You look at the St James' Park atmosphere again, a crowd in a place where they are proud of the team and seeing a team giving everything to try and win a game.
"It has been great to see and experience. It has been electric and the crowd has helped us get points. A key part of the future is to try to keep that dynamic as strong as it is now."
He later added: "I want the players to get the credit for their performances. The team has come together and fought for every point, and I don't think money gives you that."
Newcastle currently find themselves in 14th place with two games still to play.
The Magpies host Arsenal on Monday before travelling away to Burnley for the season finale.
