Newcastle United will build up to the Carabao Cup final with a completely new approach in hope of avoiding the mistakes of two years ago.
The Magpies will face Liverpool on Sunday, March 16, with ticket information now available for the important affair at Wembley, and fans can expect a more serious build-up to the final from the playing squad.
In case you missed it, another change in the approach to the final for fans who were in attendance in 2023 will see Trafalgar Square unavailable for a Toon takeover, as it closes on the Saturday night in preparation for a St. Patrick’s Day event on matchday.
Howe set on new approach
According to The Athletic, Howe and assistant manager Jason Tindall have both learned valuable lessons and are set to make significant changes to their approach to this year’s final. There will be less distraction, and more focus within the Mag camp with less access to the media ahead of the occasion.
Some significant improvements to our available squad since that dreaded day against Manchester United, particularly Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali, paired with a more tactical build-up can only benefit us in a big ask against Liverpool
“Howe and Jason Tindall have both said they have ‘learned’ from the experience of two years ago and there are plans to treat the whole occasion very differently,” Chris Waugh wrote in The Athletic’s latest Q&A session.
“Newcastle’s preparations leading into the week, both in terms of how the first-team squad approach it and how the club manage the hype, are set to be tinkered with.
“Expect there to be far less in terms of pre-final output. I do not envisage many one-on-one interviews, if any, with written journalists, and even the ‘media day’ Newcastle put on two years ago, when three players and Howe did a carousel of interviews, is set to be pared back.
“Howe does not want any distractions and he believes positive lessons can be taken from two years ago to ensure Newcastle do actually win the Carabao Cup this time.”
It’s a shift in approach that shows a change in mentality within the squad, getting to the final isn’t considered a comparable achievement to that of two years ago. Preparation is about managing the hype and maintaining focus to ensure the players are as prepared as possible when they step onto the pitch.
Toon here to win it, not take part
Our 2023 Carabao Cup final appearance helped announce us as a bigger threat than we had been for many years, alongside our Champions League qualification a few months later. We have evolved further even since then under Howe’s leadership.
The team is not as excited in the build-up to the final this time around, something that was immediately clear in Bruno Guimaraes’ post-match interview after we had dispatched of Arsenal, and the extra two years of experience will further help our chances against Arne Slot’s side.
The days of simply being happy to reach a final are over – now it’s about winning. Newcastle is no longer just happy to be at Wembley; our squad seem determined to lift the trophy and make history.
