The last time the Magpies lifted a trophy, in 1969, the Europa League was still called “Cities Fairs Cup” and they beat Hungary’s Ujpest Dosza (3-0, 3-2) in the final.
On the national level, we even have to go back to the 1955 FA Cup to find traces of a last coronation.
Since then, they have lost four finals, in the FA Cup (1974, 1998 and 1999) and in the League Cup (1976), and twice finished second in the Championship (1996, 1997).
Interrupting this series, a little less than two years following the takeover by a consortium dominated by the Saudi sovereign fund PIF, would materialize the good work done so far by coach Eddie Howe, with overall reasonable recruitment.
It would also be the guarantee of playing at least the Europa League Conference (C4) next year, even if Newcastle can aim higher, since it is fifth in the league, one length from the qualifying places for the Champions League.
However, Howe’s men will not show up in their best form at Wembley. Apart from the double victory over the red lantern Southampton, in the semi-finals (1-0, 2-1), they remain on four days without success.
Karius, the beautiful story?
The Magpies will also be deprived of their goalkeeper Nick Pope, expelled once morest Liverpool (0-2) last weekend, but also of his replacement Martin Dubravka, who has already played in the competition when he was loaned at the start. season at… Manchester United.
It is finally Loris Karius, whom England remembers especially for his blunders in the final of the 2018 Champions League lost by Liverpool once morest Real Madrid (3-1), who will be in the cages.
“It’s a wonderful chance for him to rewrite the history of his career,” Howe encouraged him, praising his detachment. “I spoke with him on Saturday evening (…) He is great, very relaxed. It’s his personality, a very cool guy”.
By comparison, Manchester United’s six-year wait may seem short, but it’s still the longest drought in 40 years.
Their last coronations date back to 2017, with the League Cup and the Europa League, a competition in which the Red Devils will play in the round of 16 following eliminating Barcelona on Thursday (2-2, 2-1).
Still in contention in the Cup, MU are 3rd in the Premier League with eight points ahead of Newcastle and still on the lookout three lengths behind City and five behind Arsenal, even if the Gunners have one game less.
Ten Hag’s Grip
A position all the more significant as they had their worst season last year in terms of points since the creation of the Premier League in 1992 (58 pts).
This recovery bears the mark of Erik Ten Hag who has returned, in a style all the same much less brittle than José Mourinho or Louis van Gaal, with the grip which had led the Red Devils to their last titles.
“When he arrived for the first time, at the training session, he demanded + you do this or you get out +”, Bruno Fernandes recently recalled.
“Everyone said to themselves + and if a great player does not do what he wants, does he take him out or not? +. And he did it a lot of times, he did it with Cristiano (Ronaldo ), with Jadon (Sancho), with Marcus (Rashford)…”, he listed.
Despite the uncertainty regarding the presence of his “serial scorer”, Marcus Rashford (16 goals since the World Cup), and the vagueness regarding the future of the club, put up for sale by the owners, the Glazer family, which does not seem to have attracted the expected offers, this final will be a golden opportunity to reconnect with a glorious past not so old.