Newcastle United are entering the League Cup final against Liverpool with great optimism, as stated by manager Eddie Howe following his team’s 1-0 victory over West Ham United, which propelled them to sixth place in the Premier League on Monday.
The north-east side has not lifted a major trophy in 70 years, but they remained focused on the task at hand, with Bruno Guimaraes scoring the decisive goal in the 63rd minute, keeping their Champions League ambitions alive.
This win was a much-needed boost for Newcastle, who had suffered three defeats in their last four Premier League matches.
“It was one of our most significant wins of the season—not necessarily in terms of performance, but in terms of desire and spirit,” Howe remarked.
“Now, our complete focus shifts to Liverpool. We need to take everything into account. I felt we needed this victory to arrive in the final with a genuine lift.”
“This win will do wonders for us, especially regarding our position in the league; today was crucial.”
Howe acknowledged that the anticipation leading up to the final had been a distraction for his players, but he was pleased with their performance on Monday, which showcased the qualities needed for success.
“That’s why I regard this win as so valuable. It would have been easy for the players to lose focus, but they remained engaged,” he said.
“These matches, as we learned before, can involve a lengthy wait, with discussions swirling around, yet there are significant games prior to it. I’m glad it’s here now, and I hope we can deliver a strong performance.”
This marks the second time in three seasons that Howe has led Newcastle to the League Cup final, having lost to Manchester United in 2023.
On Monday, Howe opted to start goalkeeper Nick Pope over Martin Dubravka, revealing that the decision regarding who would begin at Wembley was challenging.
“It’s a tough call, but it’s not the only one,” he said. “The goalkeeper situation has been unclear, as both have been outstanding. I was pleased with Nick’s contribution today.”
“You have to find the best person for the job, taking form, training, and all factors into account. These are hard decisions to make.”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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