As the Champions League song played before this match against AC Milan, Newcastle’s players noticed the words “It’s Not Beyond Our Wildest Dreams Because We Did Have Some Wild Dreams” to their right.
Those were the words of renowned former Newcastle manager Sir Bobby Robson, and for a few minutes either side of half-time, those wildest ambitions were not beyond the home team or their fans.
They were winning 1-0 against Milan thanks to Joelinton’s magnificent 33rd-minute strike, while Borussia Dortmund’s lead over Paris St-Germain in Germany meant they were creeping into the last 16 ahead of the French champions on head-to-head results.
Cut to the final whistle, and Newcastle’s inexperience and lack of enthusiasm had put those wild ambitions to rest until at least next season.
Milan rallied to win 2-1 and send Eddie Howe’s side to the bottom of Group F, with no qualification for the Europa League to console them.
It was a far cry from the emotional outpouring that surged around the Toon Army’s “The Cathedral On The Hill” in October. PSG were swept away on a tsunami of Tyneside emotion that night, losing 4-1 as Champions League football returned to St James’ Park for the first time in two decades.
Newcastle United are out of Europe after losing to AC Milan, according to reports.
Football Daily podcast: Howe must convert Champions League ‘pain into motivation’ Newcastle has left Europe.
Let us begin with the mitigating conditions.
