Newcastle United need to have an intense winning mentality next season if they are to improve on the fifth place finish that they achieved last season according to defender Mike Williamson.
The defender was one of the key numbers of the Newcastle United squad that finished in the fifth position last season, while they also came agonisingly close to finishing in the top four. Even though, in hindsight, finishing in the fourth position would not have provided them with Champions League football, it has breathed a new life of confidence within the team. Mike Williamson is hoping that the club better the result achieved last season.
However, he has stressed the presence of a winning mentality if they are to finish ahead of the likes of Tottenham and Liverpool on the table. Only the top three are guaranteed a place in the Champions League group stages, while the fourth placed team will have to play a qualifying match. The fourth placed team will also not get the opportunity to play in the qualifying matches if a team from England wins the Champions League, as Chelsea did last season. Newcastle lost the last three matches of the campaign to finish in the fifth position.
“It’s about physically and mentally getting up to scratch, but everyone wants to get into the winning mentality – that’s the way we work. The gaffer wants us to breed that. We have to be looking to win every time we step out on the pitch, regardless of whether it’s a friendly or a competitive fixture. Everyone is vying for places at the moment and trying to impress the manager – this is a big few weeks for the players,” said Mike Williamson ahead of the start of the new season. Newcastle have the ability to qualify for the Europa league group stages.