Erik ten Hag still has a long road ahead of him to restore Manchester United to their former glory, but beating Barcelona and winning a trophy in a matter of days would be a huge step in the right direction for the much-admired Dutchman.
Defeating Aston Villa, Burnley, Charlton Athletic, and Nottingham Forest to reach their first domestic cup final since the 2017-18 FA Cup, the Red Devils avoided the upper echelons of English teams to reach Wembley, but they did so with class.
A quadruple offering of trophies remains a distinct possibility for Man United, who advanced to the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday courtesy of a 2-1 win over Barcelona – Antony and Fred completing the comeback from Robert Lewandowski’s spot kick to give the Red Devils a 4-3 aggregate win.
While also vying for FA Cup glory and threatening to upset Arsenal and Manchester City in the Premier League, Manchester United travel to Wembley with a nine-game unbeaten streak in all competitions, and they have scored at least twice in each of those nine games.
The Red Devils will take to the Wembley turf for their 10th EFL Cup final on Sunday – five of their previous nine have ended with the Manchester powerhouses lifting the trophy aloft – and regardless of what happens over the course of 90 or 120 minutes this weekend, Ten Hag will be the first-ever Dutch manager to take charge in an EFL Cup final.
The only time a Dutch manager has failed to win an English cup final was when Ruud Gullit oversaw Newcastle’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester United in the 1998-99 FA Cup final, but the odds are already stacked against Ten Hag. Newcastle’s market activity has no doubt influenced their meteoric rise from the doldrums, but the laudable work of Howe has not gone unnoticed since their lucrative takeover to stay in line with Financial Fair Play regulations.
It has not been easy, but defeating Tranmere Rovers, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Leicester City, and Southampton has earned Newcastle a trip to Wembley for the first time in 24 years, and the Magpies are aiming to win the EFL Cup for the first time in their illustrious history.
However, Howe’s team has hit a slump in Premier League form at an inopportune time, failing to win each of their last four games and suffering only their second top-flight defeat of the season to Liverpool last time out – but the 10-man Magpies still threatened to expose the Reds’ defensive frailties and then some.
An eight-game losing streak at Wembley has also forsaken the Magpies since their most recent domestic cup triumph in 1955, and Manchester United’s 2-0 win over Newcastle in the 1999 FA Cup final was part of their historic treble that year. Victory on Sunday could spark a similar run of success in the coming months, but Newcastle have earned the right to compete at Wembley as Howe seeks to become the first English coach to win the cup since 2003-04, when now-Manchester United assistant Steve McClaren led Middlesbrough to victory.
Team News- Manchester United
Marcus Rashford hinted on social media on Friday morning about a possible injury concern after limping out of the match against Barcelona, but he will no doubt do everything in his power to be fit for the final.
The Red Devils will also be without long-term absentees Christian Eriksen and Donny van de Beek, and Anthony Martial is unlikely to return from a hip injury in time for the final.
Team News- Newcastle United
Meanwhile, the EFL Cup final team news has been dominated by Newcastle’s goalkeeper situation, with Nick Pope suspended following his red card against Liverpool and his backup – ex-Manchester United loanee Martin Dubravka – cup-tied, as is Anthony Gordon.
As a result, Loris Karius, who has not played for an English club since that night in Kyiv for the 2018 Champions League final, could finally have a fairytale ending. Bruno Guimaraes, on the other hand, has served his domestic suspension and can return to an injured midfield.
Emil Krafth is the Magpies’ only guaranteed injury absentee here, and Howe is hopeful that Joelinton and Joe Willock will be able to shake off thigh concerns in time to play – the former should win that fierce battle to start if both men are passed fit.
Predictions
Manchester United 3-1 Newcastle United
