Eddie Howe exclusive: Newcastle United boss says Jose Mourinho left 'very strong impression' on his coaching career ahead of Benfica showdown

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Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe is relishing Tuesday's UEFA Champions League showdown with Jose Mourinho's Benfica - live on TNT Sports and discovery+. Labelling his counterpart "one of the legends of the game," Howe holds Mourinho in very high regard, and said it will be a "great experience" to once again come up against the manager who left a "very strong impression" on his career.

Mourinho 'one of the legends of the game,' Howe says

Video credit: TNT Sports

Eddie Howe says Jose Mourinho left a "very strong impression" on his career, and is excited to reunite with "one of the legends of the game" when Newcastle United host Benfica on Tuesday.

The UEFA Champions League league phase match - available to watch live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - will be Mourinho's second visit to Premier League opposition since he was appointed as Benfica head coach in September, following his Chelsea homecoming, which ultimately ended in a 1-0 defeat.

One of the standout moments in Howe's Premier League coaching career was when his newly-promoted Bournemouth side beat Mourinho's Chelsea 1-0 in December 2015.

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By the time of their reverse fixture, Mourinho had been dismissed from his position at Stamford Bridge - but the two-time Champions League-winning coach and Howe went on to clash several times during his subsequent spells with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Howe recalled fond memories from his prior tests against Mourinho's sides.

"I loved the encounters against him earlier in my career," Howe told TNT Sports. "He’s one of the all-time great managers, so [it is] a chance to pit our wits tactically.

Highlights: Newcastle tear Union Saint-Gilloise apart

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"Against one of his teams is always a great experience. It will be great to see him again actually. He’s always very nice, very gracious in every moment. I’ll be delighted to see him."

Asked whether Mourinho inspired his own coaching career, Howe replied: "Definitely, very strong impression.

"He’s one of the legends of the game. When you’re a young manager, as I was in League Two, League One and the Championship, I’m desperate to try and get into the Premier League with my team [Bournemouth] and then to get there and go up against managers the calibre of Jose, Arsene Wenger was amazing for our development as a team.

"To be able to win those games in the early Premier League years gave us the real belief we could stay in the league and was one of the defining moments.

"I look back on those memories fondly, but also knowing his teams are very difficult to beat and they’ve always been defensively so solid. I expect that from Benfica in this game."

Newcastle suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, pegged back by a Danny Welbeck goal six minutes from time, just after Nick Woltemade had equalised.

But it has been the performances of Woltemade which have been a key standout for Howe's side thus far, the 23-year-old taking to Premier League life seemingly with ease, scoring in each of his last four matches for the club.

His latest strike, a stunning backheel flick to initially pull Newcastle level at Amex Stadium, was a showcase of his accomplished technical quality, alongside his visible physical attributes. Howe lauded the striker's excellent start.

"He’s been really impressive," Howe said. "Taking everything in his stride has probably been the hallmark of his early time with us.

Woltemade grabs scrappy opener as Newcastle lead in Belgium

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"He’s just been relaxed, looks like he’s enjoying himself. Taking on a lot of information in a short time but then delivered that on the pitch.

"The way he took his goal against Brighton I thought was outstanding, incredible finish - unorthodox.

"But that’s Nick generally, I think he does things slightly differently. But he’s been really effective for us, and long may it continue."

Howe added: "There’s a uniqueness to his game and he also hasn’t been in the Premier League for very long.

"He’s first and foremost a technically very good player. Very different from the initial impression you get when you look at him - he’s big, he’s tall, he’s going to be an aerial presence. He is, but he also brings a technical quality and we see that every day in training."

'We were a bit green' - Pope says past Champions League experience is helping Newcastle

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Pope: Previous UCL hurt is helping Newcastle

Despite some squad turnover, multiple members of Newcastle's current set-up come into the Champions League campaign hardened to its brutal nature, evidenced by their group-stage exit two years ago.

Goalkeeper Nick Pope was a part of that team, and he feels the squad has benefited from having that experience.

"We were a bit green last time, a bit eager in certain things," Pope told TNT Sports. "Obviously new to the competition, not a lot of Champions League appearances in the eleven. That experience last time round has helped so far."

Pope's side have seemed accomplished in Europe thus far this season, pushing La Liga champions Barcelona all the way at St James' Park but ultimately falling on the wrong side of a 2-1 scoreline, before a resounding 4-0 win over Belgian outfit Union Saint-Gilloise.

On the face of it, Tuesday's opposition in Benfica represent a challenge somewhere in the middle of their two tests thus far - and Pope is expecting good quality from both sides.

"They’re going to be hard to beat. They’ll play a good brand of football, it’s going to be a high level match I think. They’re a high quality team and have a high quality manager, so it will be tough."

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