Charlotte Robson
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Qualifying for the Champions League is vital for Newcastle United for several reasons. For us fans, I think it has a hugely symbolic significance - it was not a fluke that we made it there two seasons ago.

The Champions League is where we want to be and where we belong. It also means the return of huge nights for fans - the 4-1 against Paris St-Germain at St James' Park in 2023 is an historic memory for so many.

From a club side, it means money. Lovely old PSR-eligible money. The difference between Champions League revenue and Europa League revenue is huge. It matters so much in this age of spreadsheets and ing that we find ourselves in.

Of course, it means we are more likely to keep our paws on elite players like Sandro Tonali, Alexander Isak, and Bruno Guimaraes. It also means we might be an attractive prospect for other players. Come and live in the North East, guys! We have so many bridges! Play for us!

So then, on to the final game. The one where we have to get it done.

We made the mistake of getting too sentimental before the cup final two years ago and we lost. We learned from that and treated this year like business and we won.

So let's do the business against Everton.

I want this team and this management to hear that we all have it in us for one last huge push. Whatever happens, this has been an epic season. Let's make it the very best it can be.

Let's get back to the Champions League - where we all know we belong.

Find more from Charlotte Robson at the True Faith: Newcastle United Podcast, external

Image source, Getty Images

Each team in the race for the top five will have to keep an eye on other results, but deep down, you just want to be able to focus on your own business.

You want to be able to win your game out on the pitch, but the nature of the matches are really different. You have the head-to-head between Nottingham Forest and Chelsea. Then you have the likes of Manchester City playing away, Aston Villa playing away, you have got Newcastle playing at home against Everton, and when you are at home you are always going to be tough to play. So it is going to be a really, really nervous phase for all those teams involved.

How do I see it playing out? I am not sure I could tell you right now which way it is going to go. It just comes down to moments, and that is really cliche but a one-off game is almost like a final. As it stands, to go into the weekend knowing that you have a real chance, the fans of all the teams will be nervous, but you are one win away from being there.

As a player on the pitch, you absolutely get a sense of what is going on elsewhere, especially if you are at home.

You know what is happening, but then how does that affect your game? You could be losing, you could be up against it at one point, but then other teams start losing or drawing and you are back in the qualifying spots. How do you manage the next moments? How do you manage the last 10 to 15 minutes of the game when a result is one way or the other? Teams can score multiple goals in the blink of an eye, and desperation is one of the real causes for that. All of a sudden, when the kitchen sink is being thrown at people, anything is possible.

As a player, it can be really exciting. You want things to be going your way, but it is very hard to only focus on your game when other things matter at the same time. There is a double level of anxiety because you can control one thing but you cannot control the other, so you can't ever be comfortable.

From the outside, it is an exciting situation, but from the inside, you just hope that you are winning your game of football so you can just take all that out of it.

The 'as it stands' type days, they are some of the best days in football.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson