Newcastle United's manager, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604 1-0 in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final, at Stamford Bridge.
The Magpies are pressing for a top four finish this season, and are currently tied with fourth placed Tottenham Hotspur in the league table, with Harry Redknapp’s side ahead of the Toon, on the virtue of a better goal difference.
However, in the event that Chelsea go on to win the top European competition this year, they will automatically qualify for next season’s event, at the expense of the team which finishes the Premier League table in the fourth place.
The Magpies boss conceded that he will be crestfallen, if his side misses out on a place in the Champions League, even if they finish in the top-four.
"I'll choke on my beer if http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 win(s) the Champions League and we finish fourth, for sure. But the rules are the rules," he told reporters.
The Uefa has only allowed four teams from http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Arsenal-c38429, Tottenham, Chelsea and Newcastle are currently battling it out to settle for the third and the fourth spot in the league, with both the Manchester clubs
having already cemented their place at the top of the table.
However, the Englishman believes that the Blues shock win against the Spanish giants will add more pressure on the Spurs and the Gunners, as his side have remained the underdogs to finish in the top-four, for most of the season.
"Chelsea haven't won it yet. But it makes it very interesting that third place, doesn't it? If Arsenal and Tottenham get very nervous, that's a good thing," he added.
The 50-year old also underlined that the Magpies had not set the target of qualifying for the Champions League, before the start of the season. Yet his side have managed to compete with the clubs, who offer better wages to the players and make expensive
signings.
"We are battling well above our level in terms of the salaries and transfer fees these other clubs are paying,"
Pardew also sought clarity from the Football Association regarding the Champions League qualification rules, and admitted that he was also keeping close tabs on what is happening with other teams in the league.
"We are trying to get some clarity from the FA as to what it all means, because we don't know. We will find out at the end of the season.”
He went on to say that the Gunners defeat against Wigan Athletic at the Emirates Stadium was a huge setback for Arsene Wenger, as it put them in touching distance of the chasing teams.
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