Alan Pardew has claimed the Europa League is tougher to win than its big brother the Champions League - and called for UEFA's second-tier competition to be changed to a straight knockout format.
Newcastle manager Pardew will have guided his squad through a gruelling 17 Europa games if they lift the trophy in Amsterdam in May, amid fears the demands will hamper their Premier League challenge.
Pardew has revealed that the statistics gathered on his players' performances show they dip slightly when playing on a Sunday following a European game on a Thursday night - something he has urged his stars to address this week.
Newcastle face Portuguese visitors Maritimo on Thursday, looking for a win that will seal qualification to the last 32 - two-legged knockout ties that will also feature the third-placed teams from the Champions League groups.
Three points against Maritimo would mean a dead-rubber final group game against Bordeaux next month - and the chance to focus totally on Premier League form, which is currently poor.
P W D L GF GA Pts
Newcastle 4 2 2 0 6 2 8
Bordeaux 4 2 1 1 6 4 7
Bruges 4 1 1 2 4 7 4
Maritimo 4 0 2 2 1 4 2
Following home defeats to West Ham and Swansea, Newcastle have trips to Southampton on Sunday and Stoke next Wednesday night to negotiate.
Pardew 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 really, whereas we are attacking a competition which has a heavier schedule, a more difficult night in Thursday night and a much reduced squad, so it is much more difficult for us.
"Of course we want to be in Europe. But 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.
"And we all kind of know that, as Premier League managers. It is whispered about all the time, 'Blimey. It is going to be tough for you next year' - that is all I heard during the summer and it has been.
"Should it be knockout all the way? Yes, probably.
"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 it, to some degree.
"I do feel that perhaps it needs to be looked at a little bit. Whether Spanish clubs or German clubs have the same opinion, I am not sure.
"You only have to look at the other two [Premier League] 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.
"It just goes to show that it does make a big impact on your Premier League situation."
Magpies midfielder Yohan Cabaye will have groin surgery on Friday and hopes to be back in action for the Christmas schedule.
Although Pardew is having to juggle his limited resources, Fabricio Coloccini and Papiss Cisse are likely to play against Maritimo on a night when there will be an emphasis on getting the job done.
Pardew has admitted qualifying for Europe next year could soon be out of Newcastle's reach.
He added: "You want to back it up with another. And that is something we are in danger of not being able to do if we not not actually win the competition. That is the pressure it puts on you.
"Sunday (against Southampton) is a very important game for us, but so is Thursday.
"When you look at our stats, how we perform from Thursday to Sunday, it is just slightly down and that can be enough at this level.
"I obviously want to win Thursday and I want to win again on Sunday. And I have got to come up with some sort of magical plan which makes me do that.
"But we have got enough quality in the squad to carry the two games and I hope we can."
Defender Steven Taylor was bullish about United's attack on the competition, saying: "We will take our frustration out on them.
"Hopefully, we will score goals and gain some confidence. I believe we can do that.
"We are waiting for that game where two or three goals will come. We are itching to get going."
Probable team Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Taylor, Santon, Sammy Ameobi, Bigirimana, Anita, Ferguson, Shola Ameobi, Cisse
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The road to Amsterdam: Newcastle's possible route to the Europe League Final
Qualifying
1) Aug 23 Atromitos 1 Newcastle 1
2) Aug 30 Newcastle 1 Atromitos 0
Group stage
3) Sep 20 Maritimo 0 Newcastle 0
4) Oct 4 Newcastle 3 Bordeaux 0
5) Oct 25 Newcastle 1 Bruges 0
6) Nov 8 Bruges 2 Newcastle 2
Games to come:
7) Nov 22 Maritimo (H)
8) Dec 6 Bordeaux (A)
Last 32
9) 1st leg: Feb 14, 2013
10) 2nd leg: Feb 21, 2013
Last 16
11) 1st leg: Mar 7, 2013
12) 2nd leg: Mar 14, 2013
Quarter-finals
13) 1st leg: Apr 4, 2013
14) 2nd leg: Apr 11, 2013
Semi-finals
15) 1st leg: Apr 25, 2013
16) 2nd leg: May 2, 2013
Final (Amsterdam)
17) May 15, 2013
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