Newcastle United head into their final Premier League fixtures hoping to catch a stuttering Manchester United in the race for sixth but now must be equally wary of a resurgent Chelsea following the Blues' 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday evening.
The Magpies have three away trips and one home clash before the curtains are drawn on an injury-hit campaign, with any form of European qualification very much the goal. Newcastle are both one point and place behind the Red Devils (6th) but Chelsea (8th) are now just two points behind Howe's men heading into the business end of the season.
"We know we're going to have to win games to qualify for Europe and we know it's going to be tight," the Newcastle boss told reporters on Friday. "We're up against top quality teams and Chelsea are in a good vein of form too so I think it will go right to the wire."
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Chelsea have stuttered throughout the campaign but are finding a way to grind out results as they make a late play for a Euro spot of their own. Mauricio Pochettino's side put on a dominant display at Stamford Bridge this week, blowing Tottenham away to leave fifth-place in play should Manchester United or Newcastle end the season with a flourish.
Chelsea are unlikely to leapfrog their rivals with only four games to play but Pochettino is convinced his team have eventually found their feet at a crucial point in the campaign.
"In the way that we play, the way we compete, that is what we wanted from the beginning of the season, what we want to apply to the team," the Chelsea boss said after Thursday's win.
“Today, we were so competitive. In this way, we can grow, we can do better and we can improve in the areas. [...] It is not easy to create a competitive group of players [...] we are trying to find this balance. People are starting to realise it is a process, the time that you need.”
Newcastle travel to Burnley this weekend, while Manchester United face Crystal Palace and Chelsea play ninth-placed West Ham United at home.
