Trophy whets appetite for what could be
WHERE were you on the historic day Newcastle United retained the Sela Cup? When Harvey Barnes cut inside on to his right foot to score a stunning winner against Brest at St James’ Park. When Kieran Trippier and Bruno Guimaraes lifted the cup aloft as David Bowie’s ‘Heroes’ played over the public address system.
Remember when Bruno spoke last week about his “dream” of winning something for the club? This was exactly what the Brazil international meant. Right? Right?
Maybe not. There were understandably no fireworks, ticker tape or champagne on Saturday.
In truth, there were only a few thousand supporters left inside the stadium following the club’s final pre-season friendly of the summer. The fact that Eddie Howe
and his coaching staff did not even join the players on the makeshift stage for the trophy presentation said it all.
“It’s the main trophies that we’re going for,” he told reporters after the 1-0 win. “To see black and white stripes lifting up a cup is what we all want and that’s what we’re working towards.”
Howe has long visualised that prospect just as so many of his predecessors did. It was a dream that very nearly convinced Harry Redknapp to take the job in 2008. “If you could go there and bring success to the club, you would be an absolute hero,” the former Spurs manager previously said.
In truth, winning something for the fans is something that “burns” inside Howe. While Howe’s place in the club’s history is already assured, the Newcastle boss is desperate to end the black-andwhites’ eternal wait for silverware after coming within 90 minutes of doing so in 2023.
The same goes for so many of this squad. They all want to get back into the Champions League but Dan Burn, who turns 33 in May, has already spoken about how Newcastle have “got to win something”, too. Bruno, meanwhile, who has joined Burn in Newcastle’s leadership group, wants to deliver a trophy for those fans who “deserve it” having previously shed tears, himself, following the 2-0 Carabao Cup final defeat against Manchester United.
There have since been further painful cup exits at the hands of Chelsea and Manchester City. Newcastle were just seconds away from a potential two-legged semifinal against Championship side Middlesbrough in last season’s Carabao Cup when the Magpies conceded an equaliser at Stamford Bridge right at the death.
At the Etihad, meanwhile, it felt like injury-ravaged Newcastle’s campaign had as good as ended in the rain following a 2-0 FA Cup defeat, but the group rallied to finish the season strongly only to then narrowly miss out on Europe.
That was an undoubted blow, but Newcastle can now focus on domestic matters and attack both the league and the Carabao Cup in the coming months – just as they did a couple of years ago. If they manage to end that long 56-year wait for a trophy, Tyneside might never have seen celebrations quite like it.