The sting of a derby defeat lingers. Nearly three weeks after Newcastle United's painful loss to bitter rivals Sunderland, head coach Eddie Howe admitted the scars were still fresh. "You certainly don't go home from that game and move on quickly," he said, acknowledging the weight of expectation. "You know the importance of the game. You have a feeling you've let people down."

This press conference was Howe's first since that damaging result, which came on the heels of a heavy 7-2 defeat to Barcelona. It also followed public comments from the club's chief executive, who stated the board was "not looking to make a change at the moment" regarding Howe's future. The manager remained composed, focusing not on speculation but on the immediate task ahead: the final seven games of the Premier League season.

"In this day and age, it's difficult to look too far into the long-term," Howe stated, shifting the narrative forward. "I can only look at these seven games." His immediate focus is a trip to Crystal Palace, with European qualification still a mathematical possibility. The recent international break provided a rare chance for extended training, a luxury Howe has historically used to great effect, as seen in last season's EFL Cup triumph and Champions League qualification.

With a relentless schedule finally easing, Howe and his staff have gone into "analytical mode," working with a nearly full squad for the first time since August. The message to his team is clear. "Pride is at stake," Howe emphasized. "We want to do our supporters proud in these last seven games. We want to go right until the end of the season." For Newcastle, the push for a strong finish starts now.