Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has dedicated their long-awaited trophy to the city that has endured its share of heartaches over the years. The Magpies' boss highlighted the win against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final as a nod to the die-hard supporters while also signalling the dawn of a new era.
Post-match emotions ran high as Howe was seen leaving Wembley in tears, hand-in-hand with his three sons, after an afternoon that etched itself into the Magpies' history. But speaking after the match, Howe made it clear that the victory was not about the team, and it instead belonged to the people of Newcastle.
Speaking to Chronicle Live, Howe remarked: "This was a victory for everyone. It wasn't a victory for me or the players as such, it was a victory for the club, the city - everyone who has given loyalty and support to the club.
"And those who have seen some really disappointing days or decades. The pain of certain defeats. Today is a very sweet moment and I encourage everybody to enjoy it."
Howe further reflected on the significance of the victory over Liverpool, stressing: "With such a long wait for a trophy, this will be a day that I'm sure everyone will never forget. We will never forget it – I certainly won't.
"There are different ways to win trophies. Today we won it in the best way. We played a brilliant opponent who have been the best team in the Premier League all season by a long way, and for me, we were the better team."
Howe also expressed his belief that the victory could serve as a catalyst for future success, concluding: "It's really important. Hopefully one can become more – there's no guarantee, though – but I just think it proves we can do it.
"I've never had any doubts about our ability to lift out game, but you don't get many shots at this, you don't get many shots at a cup final, and today we had to try to take our opportunity. That's where the players delivered under pressure so well and so impressively.
"It also proved that we can mix our game against the very, very best. Now the challenge for us is to try to get there more often – as in lifting our game like we did today."
This article originally appeared on Chronicle Live