Football: Newcastle still have ‘long way to go’, says Howe

LONDON – Newcastle United’s near 70-year domestic trophy drought will go on a little longer after

Sunday’s League Cup final 2-0 defeat by Manchester United at Wembley,

but club favourite David Ginola insisted “it is the start of building something great”.

Once again, the Magpies were found wanting with a trophy at stake. Since winning the FA Cup 68 years ago, Newcastle have three times finished as runners-up in the competition and have now lost two League Cup finals as well.

But former France winger Ginola said on the BBC: “This is the beginning of something for Newcastle. It is the start of building something great, building history.”

There is genuine optimism that Newcastle are heading in the right direction under Eddie Howe, although the manager himself said they still have a long way to go.

“It is a process, we want to be here on a regular basis. There is a long way to go to be the team we want to be,” Howe, 45, told reporters after a disappointing return to Wembley.

“We can be proud of our performance, but we were not clinical enough. As much as we didn’t want the final to be a distraction, it has been. The players gave everything.”

There was not much between the sides in the opening half, but goals by Casemiro and a deflected Marcus Rashford effort deflated Newcastle before half-time.

They responded well after the break, but the lack of goals that has stalled their top-four challenge was evident again as they were well shackled by United.

But Howe, who has achieved a remarkable transformation since taking charge in the wake of a Saudi-led takeover in late 2021, said that they will take positives from the loss.

“It hurts immensely. It feels like you have failed,” added Howe.

“A negative sea of emotions hit you but, with defeat, sometimes you can take positives.

“Nothing is guaranteed. I hope we are a different Newcastle but the competition is very high, so we have to improve.

“We can’t stand still and think we are something. We have to prove we are – and we have to go again.”

His players, though, struck a more optimistic tone. Defender and boyhood Magpies fan Dan Burn told The Shields Gazette: “We’ll be back again, the club is in a good position now to attack these cups whereas we weren’t in the past. We need to remember this feeling and know that we’ve got the league now to concentrate on and make sure we’re not feeling this feeling at the end of the season and we hit the targets we want to hit.”

Winger Jacob Murphy added: “Our focus now goes to Saturday, a huge game away to (Manchester) City. I am confident in this group.

“I hope everybody else has the belief we do inside the dressing room because we can still achieve something special this season.” REUTERS