Nick Pope: Newcastle are ready to make history, it would mean everything to bring a cup home

Nick Pope is not used to giving much away these days but Newcastle’s goalkeeper says his team-mates feel the hand of history on their shoulder.

Almost 70 years on from their last domestic cup victory the Magpies stand on the verge of history when they head to Wembley for the Carabao Cup final later this month.

Unsurprisingly their run to the final has captured the imagination on Tyneside: match tickets aren’t yet available and Newcastle do not know their allocation but already trains to the capital for that weekend have sold out. The few remaining seats on planes are now at eye-watering prices as fans scramble to potentially witness history.

The presence of boyhood supporters like Dan Burn, Mark Gillespie and Tuesday’s match winner Sean Longstaff in Newcastle’s squad mean that is not lost on players like Pope.

“It is an absolutely massive motivating factor,” he admitted on Tuesday night.

He spoke after a febrile atmosphere at St James’ Park where somehow the sight of Idris Elba posing for pictures with Joe Willock in the middle of the victory melee felt normal. It is a club electrified and Newcastle is a hot ticket once more – but they need silverware to go with the new-found swagger.

More from Football

Tottenham can regard transfer window as a success, but it won't please everyone01 February, 2023Inside Gerard Pique's Kings League, with 40-minute games, gold cards and Aguero in a clown mask01 February, 2023Enzo Fernandez will give Chelsea creativity and stability, whatever you think of his £107m fee01 February, 2023

“It is something we have talked about a lot, right from pre-season, how long it has been since the club has won something, how long since it has reached a final,” Pope says.

“Now this group of players have the opportunity to make our mark on the history of this unbelievable football club. The city has been through a lot of years with not too much success, now it is our turn with the baton as a squad to make our mark.”

Relief, he confessed, was the overriding emotion as Newcastle finished the job started on the South Coast last week. They had been in control of the tie for almost all of the semi-final, but Southampton commanded the game in the second half.

Pope, who lost his remarkable run of consecutive clean sheets at the 11th time of asking, played his part. A super stop from Adam Armstrong when he’d had little else to do was further proof of his credentials as one of the top keepers in the country.

He is a genuine contender to overtake Jordan Pickford as England’s number one. The final will be a national showcase and opportunity to banish any lingering Wembley hangover from his last game at the stadium in September, when his late error saw Serge Gnabry equalise in the Three Lions’ 3-3 draw with Germany.

“That’s not a great memory obviously but I’ve had a good few ones this season,” he said.

“It wasn’t great when I last walked off the pitch there but as a goalkeeper, you have moments like that.

More on Newcastle United FC

Longstaff a fitting hero as Newcastle beat Southampton to reach first major final in 24 years31 January, 2023Howe targets midfielder, Shelvey joins Forest and 'direct' Anthony Gordon impresses30 January, 2023A Wembley final and £700 tickets - Newcastle's excitement proves the Carabao Cup is important30 January, 2023

“It is very normal so I am proud how I reacted to that moment and look forward to going back there.”

The temptation is to talk of achieving something by returning a club that were bottom of the Premier League just 12 months ago to Wembley. But there is a sense that this team’s ambitions will only be sated by winning the final.

“It feels amazing. You could see what it meant to everyone at the end – even before kick off in fact and of course during the game,” he said.

“Ever since reaching the semis, all the talk has been about us making the final so we are delighted to be there. But we haven’t won anything yet.

“Right at the start of the season, we talked about our ambitions and improving our results in the cup competitions and what it would mean to the city to bring a cup back to Newcastle. So that is our aim now – to go down to London and bring one home.”

from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/HiEfvVY