Manchester United secured their first major trophy in six years with a decisive 2-0 victory over Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday. Erik ten Hag’s team established control by half-time, thanks to a header from Casemiro and an own goal by Sven Botman. Despite facing pressure from Newcastle in the second half, United held firm to clinch the win. This triumph marks United’s first silverware since 2017, when they won both the Carabao Cup and the Europa League during the Jose Mourinho era. The victory is a testament to the impressive work Ten Hag has done since arriving from Ajax last year, highlighting a mature performance from his squad. The celebrations that followed United’s sixth Carabao Cup title could signal the beginning of many more trophy parades, given the promising signs of Ten Hag’s transformative first season.
“You have to win the first one, and that is what we did today,” Ten Hag remarked after the match. He emphasized that this victory could serve as inspiration and boost the team’s confidence moving forward. “We are still at the start of restoring Manchester United to where we belong — winning trophies,” he added. United remains competitive on three other fronts, currently sitting third in the Premier League, with an FA Cup fifth-round tie against West Ham scheduled for Wednesday, followed by a Europa League last-16 clash against Real Betis in March. After a decade of struggles since Alex Ferguson retired, leading to their last Premier League title in 2013, United appears to be emerging from one of the darkest periods in the club’s storied history. Despite finishing a disappointing sixth in the Premier League last season, Ten Hag has quickly orchestrated their return to prominence.
It was fitting that Ten Hag’s first trophy with United came shortly after a dinner with Ferguson, who was present in the stands at Wembley. While ending United’s longest trophy drought in 40 years does not guarantee future success, Ten Hag seems well-equipped to thrive under the intense scrutiny at Old Trafford. United co-chairman Avram Glazer, attending his first game since the November announcement that his family is considering offers for the club, may reconsider selling after witnessing what could be the dawn of a golden era.
Newcastle, despite not winning their first major trophy since the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, can also look forward to more significant occasions in the future. Since their takeover by a Saudi-funded consortium in 2021, Newcastle has been revitalized and competed admirably in their first cup final in 24 years. Manager Eddie Howe expressed pride in his players’ efforts, stating, “We played really well between both boxes. I can’t fault the players’ efforts, but we didn’t defend the free-kick well enough for the first goal. That’s what we will regret.”
The passionate support from Newcastle’s ‘Toon Army’ transformed one half of Wembley into a sea of black and white, as they sang praises for their team well over an hour before kick-off. However, this display of Geordie passion turned out to be the highlight of the day for Newcastle, as United executed their game plan with composure. Concerns about stand-in goalkeeper Loris Karius, who was making his first major appearance since his mistakes in the 2018 Champions League final, were somewhat alleviated, although he might feel he could have done better with United’s second goal.
United opened the scoring in the 33rd minute when Luke Shaw’s free-kick found Casemiro, who expertly glanced a header past Karius. This goal was a fitting reward for the midfielder’s commanding performance since his transfer from Real Madrid. United extended their lead in the 39th minute when Wout Weghorst’s pass reached Marcus Rashford in the area. Although Rashford’s shot was mistimed and deflected off Botman, it looped over the wrong-footed Karius. In the second half, Newcastle pressed hard against David De Gea’s goal, but Ten Hag’s team, demonstrating the desire and organization he demands, refused to yield. If United’s last League Cup triumph was merely a fleeting success, this victory suggests that the Ten Hag era is founded on much more solid ground.
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