Eddie Howe reflected on the significance of winning the Carabao Cup in May.
Newcastle United beat **Liverpool**2-1 to earn the club’s first domestic major honour since 1955, adding extra momentum on the way a top five charge and another Champions League campaign.
The celebrations have compelled the manager even more to chase glory and give joy to the fans, but his focus is as sharp as ever, and the journey to a successful title defence can go on with a win over Tottenham in the fourth round. After taking scalps against Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, and both Manchester clubs in the last three editions of the cup, they can complete the set tomorrow.
“I don't think it has changed me necessarily, but I think it's maybe made the desire to win even stronger because having gone through the experience of winning and the high that you get and the seeing the joy in everyone, whether that be the players, the supporters, the owners, seeing how that united the city and the celebrations, you know, that can only make you want to experience that more.
“So I don't think necessarily my will to win is stronger or my will to prepare is stronger. I think that was as strong as it could be anyway. But you just love to go through that again.
“That feeling was incredible. One of the big drivers once you've experienced that is you want it again and you want it again as quickly as possible. So we don't have unlimited opportunities for that. So this is one of those chances to go far in a competition to go deep and to try repeat the experience.
“But these early rounds are really difficult. This will be a tough game. Tottenham: their away form is very strong. So in some senses I think that's a good thing for us. It sharpens our minds. it knows leaves us in no uncertain terms what we have to do.
“It's easier said than done, but we need to do that more often in the Premier League and in various other competitions, too. The games against Arsenal were two really high-profile big moments for us, and I thought we navigated those two games brilliantly, and it showed that we have the capability to win away from home in the big moment.
*“As I say, the frustration, we haven't done that well enough in the Premier League. So, I think what it does is it proves to us all that we can do it now. Consistency is absolutely crucial.”*