
<p>Newcastle United announced its UEFA Champions League Group Stage squad this season.</p>



<p>After finishing fourth in the Premier League last season, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/newcastle-united-tv-schedule/">Newcastle</a> qualified for Europe’s premier tournament by one point over <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/liverpool-tv-schedule/">Liverpool</a>. On Tuesday, Sep. 19, Eddie Howe’s squad travels to Italy to take on <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/ac-milan-tv-schedule">AC Milan</a> at the San Siro. Only two months after signing with Newcastle, Sandro Tonali finds himself back at the stadium of his boyhood club.</p>



<p>When he moved to St. James’ Park, the 23-year-old midfielder signed <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/newcastle-nearing-75-million-deal-with-ac-milan-for-tonali-20230622-WST-439004.html">a five-year deal</a> and he quickly established himself as one of the first names on the team’s roster. His first Premier League game resulted in a goal, so he’s off to a great start with the Magpies.</p>



<p>As if a double clash with the Italian giants weren’t enough, the ‘Group of Death’ also includes French powerhouses <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/psg-tv-schedule/">Paris Saint-Germain</a> and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/borussia-dortmund-tv-schedule/">Borussia Dortmund</a> from Germany.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">💫 We have submitted our &apos;List A&apos; squad to UEFA for the 2023/24 Champions League group stage.</p>— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/NUFC/status/1699014984653472077?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h2>Newcastle include Paul Dummett in Champions League squad</h2>



<p>Newcastle have unveiled their 23-man ‘List A’ squad in anticipation of the commencement of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/champions-league-tv-schedule/">UEFA Champions League</a> group play; the roster includes a few pleasant surprises. Howe has reintroduced Paul Dummett, a long-forgotten St. James’ Park regular who has been there for 23 years.</p>



<p>Dummett has been a staple at the club for many years. The 31-year-old defender has been a mainstay for Newcastle, starting 205 games in all competitions and scoring four goals. However, he has only made four appearances in the two previous seasons combined.</p>



<h5>Matt Ritchie gets cut off</h5>



<p>Each Champions League squad must include eight homegrown players in the final list. Due to the fact that only Dummett, youngster Elliot Anderson, and midfielder Sean Longstaff meet the ‘club-trained’ criterion, the Magpies have been forced to trim the size of their squad.</p>



<p>Winger Matt Ritchie is the biggest omission. The 33-year-old, who played seven games in the Premier League for Newcastle last season and ten games overall, has worked with Howe before at Bournemouth. In any case, he was plainly a surplus.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / PA Images</em></p>


Newcastle unveils UCL squad featuring unexpected addition

Newcastle have announced their 23-man squad for the UEFA Champions League group stage, including one relatively unknown club veteran.

<p><a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/?attachment_id=90928" rel="attachment wp-att-90928"></a></p><div><figure class="image"><a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/?attachment_id=90928" rel="attachment wp-att-90928"></a></figure></div><p></p>
<p>Make no mistake about it, Atletico Madrid are on the radar of every football expert in Europe and week after week they are picking up a sizeable following amongst the average fan. The club has been amassing trophies over the past few years despite selling off some of their more prized assets to European clubs. This summer’s transfer of Radamel Falcao to Monaco will likely be the last time the Atleti lose a major talent to another club. Los Colchoneros have renewed the contracts of their latest crop of talent through the near future and are currently joint-top of the La Liga standings with Barcelona; on pace to hit 100 points in the Primera Division. The Atleti were actually a goal away from breaking Barcelona’s 54-week hold on the top spot in Spain yesterday, but weren’t able to put a fourth goal past ninth place Valencia (Atletico won 3-0). Atletico also easily qualified for the Last 16 of the Champions League by being one of only three teams to go through the group stages of the competition unbeaten (the other two being Real Madrid and Manchester United).</p>
<p>But all of this appears to be news to AC Milan midfielder Sulley Muntari. When asked by an Italian news outlet (Corriere della Sera) who he would pick to face in the Last 16 of the Champions League, the 29-year-old Ghanaian replied: “If they let me choose, [I’d] rather face Atletico, it [is] the weakest opponent.”</p>
<p>Oof…those are words he is going to regret.</p>
<p>More than likely there are still some fans who are still skeptical of Atletico Madrid or who have been unable to see them in action (it’s understandable for US viewers because beIN Sport mainly showcases Barcelona and Real Madrid each week with the La Liga coverage). But for a veteran player at a major Italian side not to be aware of the threat posed by the Atleti is inexcusable and bordering on moronic.</p>
<p>Of course the potential opponents for AC Milan were a virtual “who’s who” of European clubs: Real Madrid, Bayern Munchen, PSG, Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea and Manchester United. There really was no good answer to give to the question of “Who would you pick to play?”</p>
<p>That’s why the best answer would have been: “I am confident in my team and it doesn’t matter who we face. At this point in the competition we will be facing nothing but quality sides.” That would have been a boring answer, but it wouldn’t have made Muntari look foolish and/or rattled the cage of his next opponent.</p>
<p>For those who haven’t seen Atletico play this season, they are a passionate and motivated side who are lucky enough to play in front of some of the most loyal supporters in all of European football. Los Colchoneros feed off of their manager Diego Simeone’s focus and intensity. The Argentinian tactician has choreographed a well-organized side who execute to near-perfection with an overwhelming drive from their talented players. There is a bond between Atletico’s players and their manager that is the envy of many professional sports teams. They all want to work for each other in order to reach an ultimate goal. Atletico Madrid has a vision for Spanish and European glory; and every person in and around the club firmly believes this team can accomplish all of that this season.</p>
<p>Muntari should have known better than to give his opponent added motivation with his comments.</p>
<p></p><div class="ckeditor-em"><iframe loading="lazy" frameborder="0" width="640" height="360" src="http:\/\/www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/x18g41r"></iframe></div><br><a href="http:\/\/www.dailymotion.com/video/x18g41r_la-liga-atletico-madrid-3-0-valencia-all-goals-highlights-hd_sport" target="_blank">La Liga: Atletico Madrid 3-0 Valencia (all…</a> <i>by <a href="http:\/\/www.dailymotion.com/tapchibongda-TVL" target="_blank">tapchibongda-TVL</a></i><p></p>
<p>Diego Costa is tied with Cristiano Ronaldo as La Liga’s leading goal scorer with seventeen goals in fifteen matches; he’s averaging a goal every 81 minutes. Sid Lowe of The Guardian has referred to the Brazilian striker as “La Liga’s most decisive player this season” while his own manager simply refers to him as “Beast”. Costa is also partnered up front by Spanish international David Villa who has eight goals and three assists.</p>
<p>Atletico’s midfield boasts one of the most wanted players in Europe, the 21-year-old Spanish playmaker Koke. The young international has been dubbed the “next” Xavi, Iniesta and/or Alonso (take your pick). Koke shares the midfield with the hulking 27-year-old Raul Garcia who has added six goals of his own this season. While their defense is solidified by the stonewall centre-backing pair of Diego Godin and Miranda, with last season’s Zamora trophy winner (the best goalkeeper in La Liga) Thibaut Courtois managing between the goal posts. The 21-year-old Belgian became the youngest award winner in La Liga’s history while setting new club records for the longest runs not conceding a goal.</p>
<p>According to the latest UEFA club coefficients rankings, Atletico are the eighth best team in Europe; two places ahead of AC Milan. When asked his thoughts on the Champion League draw and Muntari’s statement, Atletico Madrid’s Raul Garcia had this to say: “We know that people have a lot of respect for us. Muntari has said he’d prefer to get us and well, he’s got what he wants now and they’ll have to beat us if they want to get into the next round.”</p>
<p>“We’re confident in ourselves. I think the team knows how to play over two legs. We’re a tough team to beat. We’ve already shown well enough what we can do and be it Milan or anyone else, we’ll stand up to them for sure. We’ll go into the first-leg with the aim of doing well and getting a good result, logically knowing that playing the second-leg at home, that’s a point in our favour.”</p>
<p>…that’s how you handle a question from the press, Sulley.</p>
<p>You’re going to regret what you wished for.</p>


ALL POSTS TAGGED "UEFA Champions Legue"

Leagues: EPL

Newcastle unveils UCL squad featuring unexpected addition

AC Milan

Sulley Muntari’s Wish of Facing Atletico Madrid in the Champions League Will Be One He Regrets