Eddie Howe has hit back at Jurgen Klopp’s claims about Newcastle ’s spending power.
The Newcastle boss has warned the Liverpool chief to “be careful” with his comments and accused Klopp of being “not totally accurate.”
And he has also added fuel to the row by saying he’ll try never to lose his rag like Klopp did during the defeat of Manchester City when the Anfield boss was sent off, because there are kids watching.
Klopp blasted Newcastle last week by saying they can “do anything they want” in the transfer window because of their mega-rich Saudi owners. United Sporting Director Dan Ashworth said last week there was “no ceiling” in the club’s ambition, which led to Klopp blasting: “We cannot act like them.
“There are three clubs in world football who can do what they want financially. It's legal and everything, fine, but they can do what they want. I heard now that at Newcastle somebody [sporting director Dan Ashworth] said 'there is no ceiling for this club'. Yes! He is right. He is absolutely right. There is no ceiling for Newcastle. Congratulations, but other clubs have ceilings."
But Howe has defended Ashworth and the Tyneside club saying: “I'm just aware that one or two comments might not have been totally accurate and that's when I have to stand up for my football club. Everyone has to be careful with their comments and opinions.
“What Dan meant with his comment was there's no ceiling to our ambition long-term. We have huge plans and want to go to places with huge ambitions but the reality of what we are working towards and working with, there is a ceiling because of all the things I have sat here and explained every week: Financial Fair Play.
"We're still in a training ground that's been renovated...We're not living that life that is being discussed. We are living a very different reality. Our wage bill is very controlled. We're trying to do things in a very stable and controlled way. Although we have spent money on players, it has not been extravagant or out of sync with the rest of the Premier League. "
Newcastle’s current turnover is £170m while Liverpool’s is £550m, with the Reds making £238m in commercial income, six times Newcastle’s earnings.
The Anfield giants spent £85m in the summer on Darwin Nunez while Newcastle broke their club record to land Alexander Isak for £58m.
Howe is aware that sixth placed Newcastle are rattling the cages of the established elite, after fighting out a draw at Old Trafford at the weekend. They have only conceded nine goals this season, the meanest defence in the league.
He added: "We want to be competitive. We don't want to be looked at as soft touches or we're just turning up to entertain. We want to turn up and win and compete. To do that, you can't look at teams and overly respect them too much. We will just do our thing. Compete hard and fair. We are not too worried about what other people think about us.
"We’ve done it in a very cool, calm way. Our wage bill has been very controlled. We haven’t splashed the money maybe people thought we would have done initially. Yes, the ambition is huge in the long-term but in the short term we are trying to improve everything we deliver for our players and we are still working towards that. We are a long long way from where we want to be.”
Asked about managers being sent off, like Klopp was, at the weekend, for yelling at officials, Howe said: "I can't say I will never lose my emotions because you don't know what the future holds. I certainly try not to.
"I am very aware that I am going to be looked at by millions and millions of people, especially children, and I think you have an expectation to make sure the game is upheld in the right way and with the right spirit. I am certainly aware of my demeanour and behaviour on the touchline.
"That's not to say I don't want to win and I don't want to win with every fibre of my being, because I do, but I've always just had that inside me not to lose my discipline.
“Also, my players are looking at me and what are they going to think of me if I'm... I'm not going to be able to help them in that moment if I'm not in control of my emotions. So these are things I'm always aware of and thinking of.
"Celebrating is different. I always tell my players, 'If you score a goal, you've got to celebrate'. They've got to enjoy the good moments because you don't know when the next one's coming. I've got no issue with me celebrating, it's more going the other way, losing my temper or losing control in a negative and aggressive way, I try not to do that."
