Eddie Howe accepts blame as Newcastle crash out of Champions League

Eddie Howe accepted responsibility for Newcastle United crashing out of Europe after a Europa League place slipped from their grasp as they tried to secure a Champions League berth.

A 2-1 defeat at home to AC Milan on Wednesday meant Newcastle finished bottom of Group F. More infuriating for the Premier League club was that they had one foot in the last 16 of the Champions League, then looked destined for the lesser Europa League only to end up empty-handed.

With the score level at 1-1 going into the final minutes after Christian Pulisic had cancelled out Joelinton's effort, the Magpies' place in the Europa League at least had looked assured with Paris Saint-Germain having secured second place behind group winners Borussia Dortmund after a 1-1 draw in Germany, but substitute Samuel Chukwueze’s late strike ensured it was the Serie A side who claimed it instead.

Asked if they might have played for a draw as time ran down, Howe said: “We wanted to qualify for the Champions League for sure. That was very much our intention before the game and in-game.

“I’m not sure in that moment you can take that will away from the players. If you look at the goals we’ve conceded, they’ve come from mistakes that can happen in any moment whether you are being proactive or reactive.

“Of course I take ownership of that, but I’d much rather have the intention to go and attack and to try to win rather than the other way round.”

Joelinton’s 33rd-minute piledriver had put Newcastle in the driving seat and their position improved further when Dortmund went ahead, but PSG levelled minutes later and crucially, so did the Italians through Pulisic.

Goalkeeper Mike Maignan managed to turn a goal-bound Bruno Guimaraes shot on to his crossbar as the