MILAN: Eddie Howe was proud of Newcastle United’s dogged return to Champions League football after two decades away, holding seven-time European kings AC Milan to a goalless draw in Tuesday’s opening Group F match.
Howe was the happier of the two managers with taking a point from the clash at the San Siro as his team were mostly on the back foot against last season’s losing semifinalists.
Newcastle did little in their first fixture in Europe’s top club competition since 2003, the Saudi Arabia-backed club barely creating a chance and lucky to escape with a draw on the balance of play.
Milan should have won after wasting a string of chances, particularly in the first half, and dominating the play on Sandro Tonali’s return to his old stomping ground after being sold to Newcastle in July. “Definitely pride in result and the performance and the mentality shown,” Howe told reporters. “Within the squad the result wasn’t underestimated.