'Newcastle seem laser-focused on qualifying for Champions League'
Jamie Smith from the Newcastle fanzine The Mag believes Newcastle's Carabao Cup success has only given the squad more "momentum" and a "laser-focus" on qualifying for the Champions League.Eddie Howe's side have already qualified for the European Conference League play-offs as a result of winning the cup, but yesterday's win against Manchester United took the Magpies into fourth place and they have the chance to move into third when they take on Crystal Palace on Wednesday.Speaking about Sunday's game to 5 Live Breakfast, Jamie said: "From minute one it looked like we were running the show."It's difficult because when you get to this stage of the season we want that Champions League space, every game needs to be taken in your stride."It feels like it's worked out really well with our cup campaign coming to a conclusion earlier," he said. "You look across the next few weeks - we've got Aston Villa off the back of the Champions League, Chelsea off the back of the Conference League and Arsenal who might be off the back of a Champions League semi-final."We've just got that laser-focus on that Champions League place, it's very important we turn up against Palace on Wednesday because that's our game in hand and almost a free-punch but that could put us third and within punching distance of Arsenal."
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