Eddie Howe adores motivational slogans and the Newcastle manager’s current favourite is: “One Brain.” The idea is to inspire his team to play with the sort of synchronicity that stems from a collective mindset and united purpose.
For a while here it seemed to be working a treat with Newcastle’s intelligence – both joint and individual – threatening to further humiliate Qarabag. But then, with a last-16 tie against either Barcelona or Chelsea assured, home concentration began wandering a little. Commendably, the Azerbaijani title holders fought back with Gurban Gurbanov’s side, and, in particular, their Colombian forward Camilo Durán, showing they can play a bit too. If the concession of nine goals over two legs is never ideal, Qarabag at least exited the Champions League on something of a minor high.
In the wake of his side’s chastening 6-1 first leg defeat in Baku last week, Gurbanov, Qarabag’s manager, had instructed his players to “be more careful and more responsible” on this truly fleeting visit to north-east England. Qarabag did not arrive on Tyneside until 11pm on Monday and were due to board a six-hour flight straight back to Azerbaijan after the final whistle here.
Throw in the four-hour time difference and it seemed a particularly exhausting schedule hardly conducive to making any sort of comeback.
