Alan Pardew managed Newcastle United to a Europa League finish in 2011-12.
Alan Pardew believes he was denied the chance to manage Newcastle United in the Champions League.
His comments arrive after Manchester City were reportedly found guilty of breaching 114 financial rules. Pardew managed the Magpies to a fifth-placed finish in 2011-12 – the year Sergio Aguero’s late winner famously clinched the title on the final day.
Newcastle could have qualified for the Champions League on the final day. However, a 3-1 defeat to Everton coupled with Tottenham Hotspur beating Fulham 2-0 sealed their Europa League fate.
Ultimately, the Magpies would not have returned to UEFA’s top table as Chelsea – who finished sixth – won the Champions League. This snatched Tottenham’s place as the rule change did not come into effect until 2015.
Pardew appeared to forget this detail when reflecting on how Man City’s alleged breaches. He told talkSPORT: “I’m guessing it would be about £70million difference to Newcastle’s wage bill that would have impacted us brilliantly. The teams that have lost out because of the financial benefits that Manchester City have had i.e getting bigger squads, getting great squads, winning titles, etc.
“It (Champions League revenue) must be a minimum £120million now. But I think going back to those years, I’m guessing it would be about a £70million difference to Newcastle’s wage bill that would have impacted us brilliantly the year after when we was in Europe.
“We were in the Europa League. We didn’t get into the Champions League because we finished fifth and therefore the financial benefit was hardly anything. So massively of course (I am disappointed), and the (Newcastle) players who missed out.
“It impacted me on a personal level. But I don’t think players and managers are all going to be like, ‘Oh, it’s affected my career’. Lawyers are going to win here, whichever way you look at it, because this is going to rumble on until we come to some sort of conclusion.
“I am very, very disappointed with the way it’s come out. I’m sure Manchester City are even more disappointed the way it’s been put out there.”
