Manchester United 2-0 Newcastle United (Casemiro 33′, Botman OG 39′)
Casemiro made it 11 wins from 13 career cup finals as he orchestrated Manchester United’s Carabao Cup triumph over Newcastle at Wembley on Sunday.
The midfielder – a £65m summer signing at the age of 30 – delivered once again as Erik ten Hag’s field marshal. It was his bullet header from a free kick that catapulted United ahead against the run of play on 33 minutes, before Marcus Rashford’s deflected shot doubled their lead before the break.
Newcastle started the final at blistering pace but United’s midfield kept cool and steadily turned the flow of the game, aided by Wout Weghorst’s willingness to drop deep and muck in.
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Weghorst and Antony both had chances to extend United’s lead, while Karius denied Rashford midway through the second half. As for Newcastle, manager Eddie Howe threw on his attacking arsenal late in the game but they laboured to carve out even half-chances against a robust United defence protected by the ever-present Casemiro.
Man Utd player ratings
David de Gea – Produced a great first-half save off Saint-Maximin from close range but had very little to do after that. As easy a game at Wembley he’ll ever get. 6
Diogo Dalot – Had the unenviable task of handling Saint-Maximin and was booked just nine minutes in. Was also flummoxed by the Frenchman on the half hour. Hooked at the break for Wan-Bissaka. 5
Raphael Varane – Teamed up with Martinez to bully first Wilson and then Isak. Barely gave Newcastle a sniff of goal and maintained his position well. 7
Lisandro Martinez – Quick in the challenge and anticipated loose balls well. His relationship with Varane has developed all season. 8
Luke Shaw – Was never really tested by Almiron on his flank, and had Casemiro to help out with defensive duties. Always looks comfortable at Wembley. 7
Fred – Appeared to be chasing shadows in the early throes and was rightly booked on 37 mins. Newcastle argued for a second yellow before the break. Eventually subbed off for McTominay. 6
Casemiro – Quiet, effective and almost impossible to play through. Casemiro was the metronome of this United side once again and got the fans going with his meaty tackles and precision passing. He deservedly opened the scoring. 9
Antony – Appeared to shake off a groin problem early on and toyed with Newcastle defender Burn at times. Was able to hold the ball up well and helped cover Saint-Maximin’s runs when not in possession. 7
Bruno Fernandes – Had one of his quieter games for United but nevertheless was quick to distribute out wide when the ball fell to him. Missed a sitter at the death. 6
Marcus Rashford – Appeared quite isolated out on the left until he latched onto Weghorst’s through-ball for the second goal. Was lucky with the deflection but everything Rashford touches turns to gold right now. 8
Wout Weghorst – Saw an early shot saved when he should have done better, but dropped deep and turned to provide the assist for Rashford, before forcing a great first-half save off Karius. Learned to step away from the physical Botman and Schar, and open a pocket for others to run into. 7
Subs:
Aaron Wan-Bissaka – Replaced the booked Dalot at half time and did better at handling Saint-Maximin. Came forward with energy too on occasion. 7
Marcel Sabitzer – Came on for Weghorst and, like McTominay, helped clog the midfield and make it hard for Newcastle to chase the game. 6
Scott McTominay – Eventually replaced Fred to inject some energy into the midfield. Helped wind the clock down. A professional substitute’s display. 6
Jadon Sancho – Replaced Antony for the last 10 minutes. N/A
Newcastle player ratings
Loris Karius – Couldn’t do anything about the first goal but could arguably had reacted better to the deflection for the second. Karius’ inclusion instead of Nick Pope wasn’t going to define this game, but it didn’t help Newcastle. 6
Kieran Trippier – Pushed forward as usual and had command of Rashford’s flank for much of the game. The United striker responded by drifting inside and scoring. 7
Fabian Schar – Tasked with muscling it out against Weghorst and forced the striker to move out of position, but couldn’t do much about either of United’s goals. 6
Sven Botman – Was caught out by Rashford’s lightning pace for United’s second goal but had looked comfortable up until then. Booked for complaining to the referee. 6
Dan Burn – Antony toyed with him at times but Burn had a generally steady game. Wasn’t helped with Joelinton being largely ineffectual in front of him. 6
Sean Longstaff – Spent the first 20 minutes dominating the midfield and providing the link through to attack. But his influence waned and he came off at half time with Newcastle chasing the game. 6
Bruno Guimaraes – Hobbled through an injury and offered some muscle in midfield but, like Longstaff, his influence waned once United got a grip on the game. 6
Joelinton – The most obscure of Newcastle’s attacking cohort, Joelinton was eventually booked for letting his frustrations spill over. A disappointing performance from the Brazilian. 5
Miguel Almiron – Linked up well with Trippier when going forward but came up against Casemiro and Shaw all too often, and had to turn back. Was more effective when, on occasion, he drifted into the centre. 6
Callum Wilson – Never really had a run on either Varane nor Martinez, and lost the physical battle there too. A disappointing afternoon for the striker. 5
Allan Saint-Maximin – Was Newcastle’s main outlet to run at the United defence, and forced Ten Hag to sub off the booked Dalot. Gave Wan-Bissaka plenty to do too, but Newcastle were too one-dimensional in relying on him. 7
Subs:
Alexander Isak – Came on for Longstaff at the break, but like Wilson couldn’t pick his way through United’s central-defensive partnership. 7
Jacob Murphy – Replaced Saint-Maximin for the last 12 minutes but ended up doing more defensive work than attacking. 7
Joe Willock – Came on late as Howe threw everything he had at an elusive goal. 6
Ten Hag ahead of schedule
by Daniel Story, i chief football writer
This is a final and in finals only the result is king. We will talk not of fortune or fate, only the forces of resolve that Manchester United displayed in soaking up the pressure and the efficiency they demonstrated in winning a final without ever getting close to their free-flowing best.
They scored via a set piece – and dire marking – and an own goal. And then they killed the game and killed any chance of further intrigue.
Ten Hag is now at least a season ahead of schedule. Winning the EFL Cup is not proof of a Manchester United in rude health, although their longest trophy drought in over 40 years is now over.
But this is not about trophies and this is not even about winning matches, really. There is a spirit to United, an air that they will not countenance defeat without a fight anymore.
It is demonstrated best in Casemiro and Martinez, two players who – to use the Eric Cantona analogy – walked in with collars up, backs straight, chests stuck out as if they owned the f***ing place.
Read Daniel’s report from Wembley here
‘It’s not enough for this club’
He didn’t have the best of games but that won’t matter for United playmaker Bruno Fernandes, who has been waiting for a trophy ever since his £67m arrival from Sporting three years ago.
And Fernandes – who captained the team in their 2021 Europa League final defeat to Villarreal – has already set his sights on more silverware this season.
“It’s an amazing feeling, we’ve been searching for this moment, us, the fans, the club, finally we get our trophy, we deserve it,” said the Portugal international.
“It’s been an amazing period [under Ten Hag]. The first trophy of the season but we want more. It’s not enough for this club, we want more and we need more because our standards deserve more.”
And the sentiment was shared in the Sky Sports studio, with Gary Neville – winner of three League Cups in his playing career – outlining his expectations for the coming seasons.
“From 2003 and 2006, we didn’t win a trophy and you feel like you’re never going to win a league again, or you’re not going to be up there again,” said Neville.
“This trophy was the catalyst for feeling confident and putting belief into the squad. This squad will be dangerous with a medal around their neck because you like to think Erik ten Hag is going to improve them again in the next 12 to 18 months.
“They’re not close to Arsenal or Man City, that’s clear, but where they are and what they’re doing is something I never would have imagined six months ago.”
More to come from Newcastle
Competing in a first major final since 1999 was never going to be an easy task for Newcastle – regardless of the money that has got them this far. Howe’s side has stuttered in recent weeks, with their top-four hopes suffering from draws against West Ham and Bournemouth, and then last week’s loss to Liverpool.
Thousands of Newcastle fans poured into the capital hoping this would be their day. And while they came up short today, it’s unlikely the supporters will have to wait another 24 years for their next cup final.
And Howe is well aware of the progress his team needs to make, if they are to turn final appearances into trophies.
“The competition we are in now is at a very high level and we need to bridge that gap. Games are decided by small margins so we need to improve and hopefully we can enjoy more days like this,” Howe said afterwards.
“[I have] no complaints with how we played, obviously the scoreline doesn’t say that, and that’s where football can be cruel. Individually and collectively I thought we played well but it just didn’t happen in the box and we need to work on that.
“I can’t take positives from losing but I can from the performance. They’ve been committed and give everything for the club. I’m sorry we couldn’t deliver for the fans today.”
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