WEMBLEY STADIUM: Report and free match highlights from the Carabao Cup final between Manchester United and Newcastle at Wembley as Erik ten Hag’s team ended their six-year trophy drought by beating the Magpies 2-0 on Sunday
Casemiro scored the opener for Erik ten Hag’s side at Wembley and they doubled their lead before the break via a Sven Botman own goal.
It is their first piece of silverware since they won the Europa League under Jose Mourinho in 2017, and it could be the first trophy of a potential quadruple, with United still in the FA Cup, Europa League and still having an outside shot of winning the Premier League.
For Newcastle, their 54-year wait for a trophy – and 68 years for a domestic trophy – goes on.
Newcastle were bright in the early stages but it was Manchester United who took control on 33 minutes, as Casemiro rose to head home from Luke Shaw’s free-kick. There was a VAR check but the Brazilian was ruled to be narrowly onside.
Six minutes later the lead was doubled as Marcus Rashford combined brilliantly with Wout Weghorst before driving into the box and seeing his shot deflect off of Botman before evading Loris Karius in the Newcastle goal.
Eddie Howe threw on Alexander Isak at half-time to try and help turn the tide, but Newcastle could not break down a stubborn and resilient red wall, as Man Utd saw out the win.
They could even have added a late third in stoppage time as a counter saw Bruno Fernandes race through, but he was denied by Karius from close range.
Neville: Ten Hag has transformed Man Utd from whiners into winners
After winning the Carabao Cup, Gary Neville says Erik ten Hag has transformed Man Utd from whiners to winners.
Sky Sports’ Gary Neville:
“It’s about one man that has transformed a team from whiners into winners – what a job Erik ten Hag has done. Players are out there that shouldn’t have played for Manchester United again but they are performing at a high level.
“They have a spirit and a fight. There is a real chance of winning trophies beyond this. He makes good decisions in matches – his subs were critical in making sure they saw this game out. It’s been a brilliant last few months.
“At the end of last season, some of those players were part of a team labelled a disgrace by me and other Man Utd fans. It was horrible to watch. They were divided. The turnaround is transformational. It’s unbelievable what Erik ten Hag has done.
“From 2003 and 2006, we didn’t win a trophy and you feel like you’re never going to win a league again, or you’re not going to be up there again. This trophy was the catalyst for feeling confident and putting belief into the squad.
“This squad will be dangerous with a medal around their neck because you like to think Erik ten Hag is going to improve them again in the next 12 to 18 months. They’re not close to Arsenal or Man City, that’s clear, but where they are and what they’re doing is something I never would have imagined six months ago.”