Howe: ‘Absolutely devastated not to go through’

A cruel night for Newcastle, who were in control for almost an hour and, at one stage, were on course for the last 16 of the Champions League, with Borussia Dortmund leading against Paris Saint-Germain. It finished 1-1 in Germany, too, meaning a draw would have been enough for Newcastle to advance.

Yet, once Milan equalised, the momentum began to shift, and Newcastle exit European competition entirely by finishing bottom of Group F. There will be no Europa League as a consolation in the first half of 2024.

Newcastle felt they had to push for a winner, with seemingly the decision being to go for it all and risk coming away with nothing. They were caught on the break by Milan’s pace and, in the end, it is the latter they must settle for.

It is easy to forget that Eddie Howe’s men were fourth seeds in this so-called “group of death”, and gave it a real go, but unfortunately their Champions League campaign, and sojourn into European competition, is over for 2023-24.