Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe explained that the Magpies stayed in a hotel outside of London in the build-up to the Carabao Cup final versus Liverpool – in a major change after their last appearance in the showpiece.
The Toon boss is looking to become the first manager to bring silverware back to St James’ Park since 1969, and deliver a first domestic triumph since the 1955 FA Cup. The North East club came agonizingly close to ending this drought in 2022, when they fell to defeat against Manchester United in the Carabao Cup final.
Newcastle was defeated 2-0 on a day to forget at Wembley, as Erik ten Hag earned his first major honor in the Old Trafford hotseat. Fast forward two years and it appears that manager Howe is eager to ease any potential distractions heading into the final against the Reds.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Howe opened up on his team’s preparations for the showpiece as he looks to become the first Englishman to win a domestic trophy since Harry Redknapp in 2008. Explaining that the team stayed outside of London in the lead-up to the clash, he confirmed: “The biggest change [from 2023] has been our hotel.
“Our hotel has been outside London, that’s been… two years ago we were right next to Wembley, so we were absorbing everything… supporter[s], feeling, maybe too early in our build-up,” he continued, as he discussed the merits behind the decision. Being out of the way, maybe that will make a very small percentage difference.”
As for whether the anticipation among supporters had filtered through to the dressing room, he added: “I think with modern day social media you can’t be unaware of what’s going on, but it’s a case of not wanting to absorb it too much. I just want the players to relax, go into the size of the game as a normal game, perform at our best.”
(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
On the other side of the battle, Reds boss Arne Slot embraced the challenge of leading his men into a first final since he succeeded Jurgen Klopp in the hotseat. “You play games like this to win it, and that’s what we’re going to try to do,” he said.
“And we’re really looking forward to it, to playing a final again, because you cannot take a final for granted, especially not in this country with so many good teams involved in every cup competition. So we’re looking forward that we are part of it, and if you are part of it, of course you want and try to win it. But that’s probably what Newcastle wants as well.”
As for the decison to name Caoimhin Kellher from the start, he explained: “”It wasn’t difficult. It was only once when I played Alisson and that was only when he had been out injured and needed playing time to be back to his best. For all the other games, we have played the second choice. That was Jaros when Caoimhin was the No.1. Caoimhin has always done so well so deserves to play in this one.”
Likewise, he spoke of the attributes that defender Jarell Quansah can offer the Merseysiders as he earned a start in the showpiece, adding: “Jarell brings other qualities to the game. He is strong at set pieces. We won’t play a completely different style because we are missing one player.”
