Against Benfica! Eddie Howe: I’m really looking forward to playing against Mourinho. I’ve learned a lot from him.

At the press conference before the Champions League match between Newcastle United and Benfica at home, head coach Eddie Howe attended the press conference. He talked about the team's injury situation, the state at the beginning of the season, and his feelings against Mourinho.

On the loss to Brighton:

Eddie Howe: I said something similar after the game against Arsenal. We’re excited to get to the next game quickly and try to build momentum again. The game against Brighton was a mixed bag, with a lot of good aspects but we still need to improve.

Can Tonali play tomorrow?

Eddie Howe: He's a little sick. Whether he can play is still unknown.

On facing Mourinho:

Eddie Howe: He is definitely a visionary. A coach who thinks outside the box. It’s incredible what he’s achieved and it’s always a great opportunity to play against a team he coaches. I'm very much looking forward to it.

On playing against Benfica

Eddie Howe: We have been through that situation a few times. The atmosphere under the lights will be great, it depends on how we match that atmosphere.

On the experience of defeating Mourinho during the Bournemouth period:

Eddie Howe: Any Premier League victory is worth recalling, especially at that stage of my career when Chelsea was one of the strongest teams in the league. That win gave us the belief that we could compete in the Premier League. I look back on those games fondly, but it's completely different now. We know the importance of home games.

On the “frustrating” start to the season

Eddie Howe: “Frustrating” is how it feels now. We are very close to getting better and achieving better results. The team's overall performance has been strong, but there were a few missteps against Brighton. We are working hard to create chances and the best example of that was that goal. It came from the goalkeeper and we worked hard for that goal. You have to make your own luck and we're not far off.

About Mourinho's respect for Newcastle

Eddie Howe: I heard what Mourinho said about Newcastle, and I feel the same way. Those were beautiful words to say about Sir Bobby and the role he played in his career. But friendship is until tomorrow and we want to win. Those words may sound pleasant, but we desperately need results.

On Mourinho's impact at Benfica

Eddie Howe: I would say his characteristic as a coach is that his teams are very difficult to beat. He has a way of motivating his team to perform extremely well without the ball. Against Chelsea they came very close to a good result and it was a very close game. We know what to expect and now it’s our turn to influence our players and execute our game plan.

About the impact of home field advantage

Eddie Howe: This is always one of the decisive factors. The fans can inspire us and bring about change, and when the games are close, you count on them to break the deadlock.

Concerns about whether this could be a transitional season

Eddie Howe: Anytime you bring in players and you lose players, there's going to be a transition. Hopefully we've found the right balance without losing the identity of the team. The effort and commitment was there but sometimes we didn't play with enough quality. As long as we see the right attitude we will get solid results but there is no doubt that when you lose players there are always things that need to be fine-tuned.

About Newcastle wingers

Eddie Howe: We have been meeting with them, both individually and as a group, and we are constantly improving all phases of our game. Offensive players have a responsibility to contribute, but sometimes the problem isn't always where you see it directly.

About Ilanga

Eddie Howe: He is an outstanding player and I have no doubt about his long-term contribution to the team. There was an adaptation period and he was adjusting, but if you look at the highlights, he made some great crosses that we should have scored from.

On Mourinho's impact on his coaching career:

Eddie Howe: When he first came (England), the impact he had was incredible. He had an aura about him. I learned a lot from watching his teams in the early stages of thinking about how to play my team. He definitely had a big influence on me.