Winning the Champions League is easy compared to Europa slog, claims Pardew

By Colin Young

Published: 18:45 EDT, 21 November 2012 | Updated: 19:05 EDT, 21 November 2012

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew says winning the Europa League, and sustaining a challenge in the Barclays Premier League, is harder than winning the Champions League.

As the Toon boss and his team prepare to clinch their place in the knock-out phase of Europe’s secondary competition, Pardew has admitted participation in the Europa League has taken its toll on his squad and their season.

Swansea City’s victory at St James’ Park on Sunday was Newcastle’s second unexpected home defeat in a row, following West Ham United’s triumph the previous week. Newcastle, who finished fifth above Champions League winners Chelsea last season, currently sit in 12th in the Premier League, six points behind fifth-placed Everton.

Limited resources: Newcastle manager Alan Pardew is juggling European and domestic campaigns

Pardew has delved into his thin resources to tackle the two competitions and they top Group D of the Europa League with two games to go. Despite changing the side to rest players for league action since the play-offs in August, Newcastle have won just two of their league matches after six European games this season and Pardew admitted the competition is taking its toll.

He said: `I think it is harder for us. I genuinely do. The four Champions League teams have the finance to attack that with two squads, whereas we are attacking a competition which has much more games, a heavier schedule and a more difficult night in Thursday night, and a much reduced squad.

`I do think that in the Premier League, we play a heavier schedule than most European leagues and I do think for Premier League teams, it is really difficult in this competition and that is probably why we have not been that successful in this country to some degree.

`You want to be in a competition which gives you some sort of fighting chance in your own league and this format is very difficult for Premier League teams. We all kind of know that as Premier League managers. It was whispered about all the time by other managers who said "blimey, it is going to be tough for you next year". That was all I heard during the summer and it has been.

`I do feel that perhaps it needs to be looked at a little bit and I personally would welcome a knock-out competition. Whether Spanish clubs or German clubs have the same opinion, I am not sure.

Hard yards: Papiss Cisse (centre) in training ahead of the Europa League match against Maritimo

`You only have to look at the other two English clubs in the competition (Spurs and Liverpool). We’re all having very similar seasons at the moment and they are stronger clubs than us financially so it just goes to show that it does make a big impact on your Premier League situation.

`Of course, we will gain from the experience of it. I have spoken to Tony Pulis a couple of times and he would love to be in the competition this year for sure, with the experience he gained last year but it is difficult to back it up. And that is something we are in danger of not being able to do if we do not actually win the competition. That is the pressure it puts on you.’

Preparations: Hatem Ben Arfa (centre) at Little Benton on Wednesday morning

Pardew will turn again to the likes of Sammy Ameobi and Gael Bigirimana to defend a 24-game unbeaten home record in the various guises of this competition against Portuguese minnows Maritimo.

The Newcastle boss has confirmed that France international Yohan Cabaye is out until the New Year as he awaits surgery while Cheick Tiote is suspended for the game after picking up his third caution in the competition in Belgium a fortnight ago.