Boss Eyes Up Top Four

By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Club Reporter

Alan Pardew knows this weekend is crucial to his side's European ambitions, with the boss admitting there could be "nothing left to go for but the Champions League".

It is FA Cup semi-final time, and with Chelsea's involvement in the last four of the famous competition against Tottenham on Sunday, it means United's scheduled trip to face the Blues has had to be postponed.

But all Magpies eyes will be on the other semi-final at Wembley on Saturday lunchtime - the Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool. A victory for the Reds will see Newcastle almost certainly claim qualification for next season's Europa League.

However, with his troops currently level on points with fourth-placed Spurs in the Premier League table, Pardew is setting his sights even higher should that happen.

"I have never actually ruled it out. The press kept saying to me, 'Are you going to make the Champions League?', and I said we were just looking to win the next game," explained the boss.

"But look, it's not gone unnoticed. This week could be important for us because if the (FA Cup) semi-final results go our way, we could be in Europe, I think.

"If that works in our favour, then really, really there is nothing left to go for but the Champions League.

"That's important to us, the semi-finals, we will be looking at them because we are up against Chelsea for that Europa League place if the results go against us, and that's still very, very tough on us.

"To have this points total and not make Europe would be tough to take, so we have got to keep our eye on the ball, and we aren't giving up on anything."

Pardew revealed his pride at seeing his side defying all their critics to remain challenging at the right end of the division with just five games remaining.

And the manager is determined to make sure United are not just one-season wonders and can repeat their heroics next term.

"Of course I am, and not just that - we have been down to the bones with about eight big first-team players in the treatment room," he said.

"But the squad has just come through absolutely brilliantly, and it just sums us up, what we have been about all year, and we must never lose that.

"It's important that the players understand that this is a new team, but we have got to do it again next year.

"It is not just about this year, it's about doing it every week, and that's what we as a coaching staff try to drill into our players. Every week, every game, we ave got to be at our best and at the minute, we are."