If Sunderland win the League Cup on Sunday they will qualify for Europe and take away a spot that is available if Man City take the trophy (because City will be in the Champions League next season).
Cheick Tiote: “Every game is important.
“We are in a good position, but if we win each game, we have a chance to finish in a better position.
“It’s going to be hard, but we need to believe and try to win every game.
“We’ve got more confidence now. We hadn’t won for a few games. We didn’t play as a team and we conceded too many goals. We take that to the next game.”
The Magpies played in Europe last season, after finishing fifth in 2011-12, but Alan Pardew blamed the extra demands of the Europa League for their struggles in the Premier League the next term.