United end long wait for a trophy

London, Feb 27

For a top club a six-year wait for a trophy is a long time and Manchester United ended that barren period with a 2-0 win against Newcastle to lift the Carabao Cup. Newcastle, on the other hand, have waited even longer for a major trophy. It is 54 years since they won the Inter-City Fairs Cup, now called the Uefa cup.

United’s manager, Erik Ten Hag, who is only in his first year with the club, has instilled confidence in the side, changed the attitudes and banished complacency. Since early November, United have only lost once and this final was their 10th unbeaten consecutive match.

Ten Hag said: “I just love United. This moment you have to celebrate. It’s not business as usual, it’s not a common day. We won a trophy, it means something. It’s ok to be happy for 24 hours, we’ll get a lot of inspiration from this. But don’t be satisfied. Satisfaction leads to messiness, and then you become lazy.”

He added: “We are still at the start of restoring Manchester United to where they belong, which is winning trophies and this is the first one. When I see our shirts, Old Trafford, the legacy of Sir Alex (former manager) left, so many big players that were developed in United teams and made a big impression, we want to do the same. This team wants to make its own history, its own legacy.”

In the final, Newcastle missed a fine chance to take the lead when Allan Saint-Maximin made good ground, beating Diogo Dalot on way to the edge of Newcastle’s six-yard box, and drove a firm shot at goal but David de Gea blocked it at the near post with his left arm and Bruno Guimaraes following up, volleyed high over.

United went into the lead in the 33rd minute when Marcus Rashford was fouled by Guimaraes. Luke Shaw took the free-kick and curled it perfectly for Casemiro to rise above Sven Botman and Fabian Schar to head superbly into the far corner. For his excellent performance throughout, Casemiro was the player of the match.

Just six minutes later the lead was doubled. It came with Wout Weghorst sending a short pass behind the Newcastle defence and Rashford was on to it instantly. He took a left-footed shot which hit Botman’s leg, as he moved towards Rashford, and was deflected high into the net with the goalkeeper, Loris Karius, left helpless.

Karius then denied United with an excellent one-handed diving save from a curling shot by Weghorst. Newcastle kept applying pressure, looking to score but United were too strong and determined to give into any pressure by that stage.

Newcastle manager, Eddie Howe, said: “We’re left with a feeling of defeat in the final, which is never nice, and we’re desperately disappointed. But already, for me, you look to the future and you’re desperate to get back here and win a trophy.”

He added: “I thought we were really good between both boxes. But in the boxes is where games are won and lost. I thought we didn’t get the big moments right defensively and with the chances we had, we weren’t clinical enough.”