Eddie Howe insists that Newcastle United’s mid-season trip to Saudi Arabia is a “football decision”.
The north east club will travel for one week to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia during the upcoming World Cup. World CupAl-Hilal will be facing you in a friendly fight on December 8.
They are making their second trip to the Gulf State since the Public Investment Fund, a wealth fund owned by the Saudi government, purchased an 80 percent stake.
Sportswashing was alleged in the last trip. Saudi Arabia was condemnedTheir record in human rightsMany non-governmental organizations.
But Howe said: “First and foremost, when you look back to last year, our decision to go there and the benefit it had for the team and the results on our return were really good. We got some positive connotations.
“Going back to our trip last year, the weather was very good, the facilities were first class, we were able to spend some quality time together to bond the group and really focus our energies on our battle to stay in the division.
“The team spirit off the back of that trip was very, very good. Obviously we have that positive experience to fall back on and it’s helped with our decision this time. We will play one game at the moment.
“We’ve made a football decision. We’ve looked at the World Cup break, what’s the best thing for the team.
“The best thing for the team, I believe, is to take the team away like you would in pre-season, away from distractions, a chance to really train the group, enhance the team spirit with hopefully some good weather, so that’s what we’ve done.
“We’ve made it from a purely footballing backdrop.”
Newcastle is sixth on the Premier LeagueAfter 11 games, face Tottenham HotspurSunday
(Photo: Getty Images).
