Newcastle fully deserved to reach the English League Cup final.

NEWCASTLE BEFORE A HISTORICAL MILESTONE

The British press likened Arsenal to a "boy who never grows up," implying that the team always plays well, always has the potential to achieve great things, but ultimately never wins a trophy, never wins the matches they should win. And when Newcastle convincingly beat Arsenal in the League Cup semi-final, people wrote: "the boy who is about to grow up" beat "the boy who never grows up."

Having won 2-0 away in the first leg, Newcastle defended with a large number of players at home and consistently showed sharpness in counter-attacks or quick counter-attacks. Manager Eddie Howe's tactics were generally different between the two legs. Mikel Arteta's Arsenal, who had just thrashed Manchester City 5-1 in the Premier League, were defeated 0-2 again in the second leg. Despite having less possession, fewer passes, and fewer shots, Newcastle remained solid and no one doubted their ability to win throughout the match.

Newcastle (right) beat Arsenal to reach the English League Cup final.

Newcastle's opponent in the final on March 16th will be either Liverpool or Tottenham, but who it is doesn't really matter. Before the semi-finals, everyone thought Arsenal were the favorites, but Newcastle, the underdogs, still won both legs. This will be the second final in three years for the team managed by Howe (in the 2023 League Cup final, Newcastle lost to Manchester United). Newcastle fans hope that this time, Howe has gained more experience, and that finally a valuable trophy will come to Newcastle. Nearly 100 years have passed since Newcastle last won the league title. When they won the FA Cup in 1955, the English League Cup hadn't even been created yet!

HOW SAVES THE HOMELAND OF FOOTBALL

No English manager has ever won the Premier League. Looking at the FA Cup and League Cup, only six managers have won titles in the Premier League era (Ron Atkinson, Roy Evans, Joe Royle, Brian Little, Steve McClaren, Harry Redknapp – each winning the cup just once). McClaren is the only manager among them still active (he is currently the head coach of Jamaica).

In this day and age, it's rare for an English manager to survive, let alone win a trophy. Howe is one of only two "homegrown" managers in the Premier League right now. The other is Graham Potter, who only took over as manager of West Ham on January 9th. If Howe wins the League Cup, it would be a real salvage for what could be called the "English manager brand," which has strangely declined over the past few decades.

Apart from a few second-tier stars like Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak, Newcastle can be called a team without superstars. Their success stems from a balanced, highly effective style of play between attack and defense, with a midfield that is a real nuisance to any opponent and quick, well-coordinated teamwork between Gordon and Isak in attack. If you want to watch football from an "appreciative" perspective, choose another team! Howe always says: "We fight, we don't show." Ask the "big clubs" like Liverpool, Chelsea, or Manchester City which team they find most frustrating to face, and the answer will be: Newcastle. As for Arsenal, there's no question: this was Newcastle's third consecutive win (all clean sheets) against Arsenal this season.

In the Premier League, Newcastle are currently level on points with Manchester City but only sit in sixth place. They are still fiercely competing for a top-four spot.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/newcastle-rat-xung-dang-vao-chung-ket-cup-lien-doan-anh-185250206230033426.htm