Newcastle United sent a clear message to potential Champions League opponents after securing passage to the knockout stage with a dominant 9-3 aggregate win over Qarabag. Winger Jacob Murphy and head coach Eddie Howe expressed unwavering confidence, declaring "Bring on whoever's to come" while emphasizing their belief in the squad's ability to compete with anyone in the next round.

Howe's side leads the competition with 26 goals after winning six matches in this campaign, quite a turnaround from earlier this month when the manager admitted he wasn't doing his job "well enough" following a Premier League defeat. The team has since won four of their last five games, fueled by a desire to "fight for the manager" and proving they can battle Europe's elite on their day.

Despite sitting 11th in the Premier League, Newcastle have embraced Champions League competition, drawing with holders PSG and pushing Barcelona close in their opening group game. Former striker Dwight Gayle predicts the squad will "buzz off someone like Barcelona," highlighting their transformation from wide-eyed newcomers to confident contenders ready to continue their European journey.