Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has emphasized that reaching a semi-final “isn’t enough” as he prepares his team to face Southampton in the League Cup on Tuesday. The Magpies are eager to end a trophy drought that has lasted for decades. They reached their first League Cup semi-final in 47 years by defeating Leicester earlier this month, setting up a clash against Southampton, who eliminated Manchester City from the competition. With Newcastle having not won any domestic silverware for 68 years, Howe is determined to avoid failure as they look ahead to next month’s Wembley final.
“We’re delighted to be where we are, but the semi-final itself isn’t enough; I don’t think it’s enough for anybody,” Howe stated on Monday. He expressed that simply reaching the semi-final is not a significant achievement, as the ultimate goal is to advance further. “I know the players feel the same way. My coaching team and I are passionate about making it to the final, but we must navigate these two games, which are going to be very difficult.”
Since the club was purchased by a Saudi-led consortium in October 2021, Newcastle has made significant progress and currently sits third in the Premier League, with only one league defeat this season. “We’re desperate for the next step, but we have to focus on the process and the job at hand, which is to go to Southampton and perform,” Howe remarked. The team extended their Premier League record to 15 games unbeaten with a goalless draw against Crystal Palace over the weekend.
Southampton, on the other hand, is at the bottom of the table under new management after Nathan Jones was appointed in November. Howe praised his counterpart, saying, “Nathan I admire greatly as a manager; I think he’s done very well in his career, especially during his time at Luton.” He acknowledged that Jones is now working to implement his ideas at a new club, making the upcoming match a different challenge compared to what they faced under former manager Ralph Hasenhuttl.
Howe noted that the cup game provides both teams with an opportunity to step away from the pressures of the Premier League, creating an interesting dynamic for the two matches. The second leg of the semi-final will take place in Newcastle on January 31, while Manchester United will travel to Nottingham Forest for the first leg of their semi-final on Wednesday.
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