Former Liverpool ace Jamie Carragher has explained why he plumped for Eddie Howe as his manager of the season, following Newcastle United securing Champions League qualification.
The Magpies ended the season in fourth place in the Premier League, exceeding their own expectations and securing a place in Europe's top competition for next season, ahead of the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham.
Howe inherited a struggling squad when he took in 2021, but with some astute work in the transfer market while getting the best of his existing players, Newcastle have surprised many with a stunning campaign, ending their two-decade wait to dine at European football's top table.
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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has picked up the LMA Manager of the Year award and the Premier League award after guiding his side to the title - and with an FA Cup final against Manchester United come, plus the Champions League final against Inter. And Carragher, speaking on Sky Sports, admitted it was a toss-up between Howe and Guardiola.
"It was either Eddie Howe or Pep Guardiola, and I think we all probably feel that Pep will go on and win the treble - how can you go against that?" the ex-Anfield man said.
"My only reason I went for Eddie Howe was because I feel Man City have been in a position to almost win a treble most years. They get to March and April - obviously, it’s really difficult to do that and they just falter in something - whereas I just can’t believe what happened last season to this season with Newcastle in terms of where they were when Eddie Howe came in to where they are now - Champions League football.
"I actually felt there was more chance of Man City doing a treble, if you like, than Newcastle being in the Champions League next season. That’s why I’ve gone for Eddie Howe."
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