Eddie Howe hailed Newcastle’s Carabao Cup final victory over Liverpool as a moment the club “will never forget” after guiding them to their first major domestic trophy in 70 years.
Dan Burn and Alexander Isak delivered the goals in a 2-1 win at Wembley, securing not only silverware but also a UEFA Conference League spot for next season.
Howe rejected any suggestion that Newcastle’s win was fortunate, insisting his side fully earned their victory.
“With such a long wait for a trophy, this will be a day that I’m sure everyone will never forget,” Howe said. “We will never forget it. I certainly won’t.
“I think there’s different ways to win trophies. Today we won it in the best way. We played a brilliant opponent, they’ve been the best team in the Premier League all season by quite a long way. And for me, we were the better team.”
“It feels amazing, absolutely. One of the best days of all of our careers.”@NUFC manager Eddie Howe is on cloud 9 after winning the Carabao Cup at Wembley pic.twitter.com/CTpycdBawX
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“I feel amazing, it is an incredible day. I was so, so pleased with our performance, it was not a lucky win, thoroughly deserved,” Howe said. “I am drenched in alcohol from Joelinton and the rest of the squad, it’s a great moment, it is about embracing the success. We have to try and enjoy the moment and take it all in.”
Becoming the first English manager to win a major trophy in the country since Harry Redknapp’s FA Cup triumph with Portsmouth in 2008, Howe hopes this breakthrough can be a platform for more.
“Hopefully with one, it can become more,” Howe said. “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 our game. But you don’t get many shots at this, you don’t get many shots at a cup final.
“Today we had to try and take our opportunity and 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 and get there more often.”