Manchester United 2-0 Newcastle United
by James Nalton
at Wembley Stadium

ERIK TEN HAG walked into the Wembley press conference room proudly displaying the EFL Cup following Manchester United’s win against Newcastle United in the final on Sunday afternoon.

It was Man United’s first trophy in six years and came with the sense that it could be the first of a collection under the Dutch manager. It appears the fans of both sides are beginning to believe success is just around the corner.

And there was to be no standing on ceremony for this first Wembley final of the season. Both sets of supporters travelled south boisterously and in numbers, eager to win a trophy to make sure their team had something to show for promising campaigns to date.

They packed the streets of London and overflowed from pubs around the capital’s two train stations that receive northerners, Euston and Kings Cross.

The city was primarily black and white, partly because many travelling Manchester United fans tend not to wear club colours.

“Before the game was an incredible sight to see the black and white, even overnight in London, and the support that they’ve given us,” said Newcastle manager Eddie Howe.

“Truly incredible. I’m just so disappointed for them that we’ve not been able to win today’s match.

“But a big thank you for me to them for everything they’ve given.”

Red and white scarves made the Manchester end of Wembley distinctive for the event itself, though, and the performance could also be described as distinctively Man United.

Ten Hag’s side didn’t dominate the possession but it still felt like they dominated the occasion, as the club has done many times in the past.

They got the two goals they needed to take the upper hand thanks to Casemiro’s header from Luke Shaw’s free-kick and Sven Botman’s deflection of a Marcus Rashford shot. From there they never looked like conceding.

Newcastle didn’t play especially badly, either. They were the most entertaining team for much of the game, finishing with more than 60 per cent possession, but they couldn’t quite make the breakthroughs required.

“I’m naturally disappointed,” added Howe. “But I’m pleased with how we played.

“I thought we were really good between both boxes, but in the boxes is where games are won or lost.

“I think today we didn’t get the big moments right defensively, and with the chances we did have we weren’t clinical enough, and probably didn’t create enough for all of the ball we had around their box.”

Forward Alexander Isak replaced midfielder Sean Longstaff at halftime as Newcastle attempted to create more. It made for a very direct, pacey attack.

The Swede joined Callum Wilson in the middle, flanked by Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron.

In an attacking sense, Saint-Maximin was the game’s standout player. He lured Man United’s starting right-back, Diogo Dalot, into a yellow card with less than 10 minutes of the match gone. This no doubt influenced Ten Hag’s decision to replace Dalot with Aaron Wan-Bissaka at halftime.

Saint-Maximin continued to be a threat until he was himself subbed off with around 10 minutes to go. Though Wan-Bissaka’s defensive strength showed, it often needed more than one defender to stop the Newcastle winger.

Isak was also an instant threat, but as Howe alluded to, much of it was limited to the outskirts of the box as Man United held Newcastle at bay.

Anything that did break that perimeter was blocked or cleared, with Casemiro, Raphael Varane, and Lisandro Martinez particularly active in such defensive work

Man United scrapped for second balls in their own area and were always in the right place at the right time.

“Before the game, I was asked about all the influence of Casemiro and Rafa Varane — they know how to win trophies,” said Ten Hag.

“Martinez, I had him at Ajax and I won trophies with him. Same with Antony.

“You need personality, you need a type of character in your squad to win in the end, and Martinez is definitely one of them. You can count on them and you can rely on them.”

A couple of good saves by Loris Karius from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford prevented Man United from adding a third or even a fourth. Karius was in the spotlight having come in as an unlikely replacement for the suspended Nick Pope, but played well.

Ten Hag was eager for his players to celebrate this win, but also for them to use it to build momentum for future success.

As he got up to leave the press conference, he almost forgot to take the cup with him. As he came back to retrieve it he joked: “I can leave it, because, next cup!”

Indeed, Man United remain in with a chance in three other competitions this season, and though there were celebrations on Sunday, for a team hungry for success it will now be a case of done and onto the next one.