Newcastle have lost two of their opening three Premier League games this season. The Magpies lost to Manchester City and Liverpool. Despite finishing in the top four last season, Newcastle have won just two of their last eight Premier League games. This is an alarming statistic for Eddie Howe's team.
The recent 1-2 loss to Liverpool in a superior position is an example of the fierceness that Newcastle have to face this season. They will return to the Champions League for the first time since 2002.
Due to their absence from European competitions in recent years, Newcastle will be in Seed Group No. 4. They could fall into a group with "hammocks" such as Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and AC Milan. Newcastle should be happy with this comeback but the reality is very fierce.
Going deep in this year's Champions League may be a difficult goal for Newcastle when they are still in the formation stage. Of course, having a team in this arena is a success for the Saudi Arabian owners despite the difficulties they have to face.
And that is what will make the coming time challenging for Howe and the players. The Champions League is a goal that the former Bournemouth coach set last season and cannot be backed down.
Despite spending £125m this summer on Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes and Tino Livramento, Newcastle could still face a major challenge in the Champions League. Howe must prove he can compete with other top coaches.
Reducing the gap between expectations and reality is very different. If the Newcastle owner is ready to give Howe and his players a "challenging" season in the Champions League, it will be a rare patience at this level. But after all, continuing to participate in the Champions League next season is still a must for the "Magpies".
Newcastle's start in the Premier League has shown the difficulties they have faced. Next up is the away trip to Brighton, the team with the strongest attack in the tournament to date with 9 goals in 3 matches.
The excitement after the opening day victory over Aston Villa could soon be washed away if another negative result occurs at Amex Stadium.
Recovering from a poor start, while getting used to the intensity of the Champions League, will be a big challenge for Howe and Newcastle. Even teams like Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea will not easily overcome.
Newcastle's squad lacks the necessary experience to deal with what is about to happen. Financial fairness law has limited their spending ability this summer. Despite investing heavily in emerging talent, Newcastle's squad still lacks depth.
This season's return to the Champions League arena is a leap forward for Newcastle. In other words, success comes faster than they expect. Newcastle could soon undergo a real test with Europe's top teams.
Of course that is a positive motivation for Howe, but the reward is just a greater pressure to play in more difficult circumstances. Now Howe must prove that he can do that.
