Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has warned his players not to become "lazy" and aim to add more titles after ending a six-year wait for a trophy with victory over Newcastle United in Sunday's League Cup final.
A Casemiro header and a Sven Botman own goal secured a 2-0 win at Wembley for United – the first trophy of Ten Hag's reign since taking over at Old Trafford at the start of the season.
United are still in the hunt for three more trophies – they sit third in the Premier League and are still in the FA Cup and Europa League – and the Dutchman said winning the Carabao Cup was an indicator the club are heading in the right direction.
"It shows something, silverware, that you are on a good pathway, you are in a good direction," said Ten Hag, who brought the trophy to his post-match press conference and almost forgot to take it with him afterwards.
“It is one cup and it is February, but it shows we are in the right direction. This has to be the inspiration, it has to be the motivation to keep going, to continue on this pathway and to improve.
“OK, be happy for 24 hours but not satisfied because satisfaction, that leads to laziness and when you become lazy, you don’t win any more games and you can’t win trophies.”
Man United v Newcastle ratings
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MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David de Gea - 7: In-form and stayed that way. Best first-half save from Saint-Maximin on 31. Big save from a Trippier cross (though he was offside). Judged a run out of his area perfectly to win a 79th-minute Saint-Maximin ball. Brilliant punch to an 85th-minute Trippier corner. . PA -
Diogo Dalot - 5: Booked after a 9th-minute tackle on Saint-Maximin, dangerous ball into the box on 15. Skinned by Saint-Maximin close to goal before he was brought off at half time. AFP -
Raphael Varane - 8: Nipped a third-minute ball away from Wilson but it’s not about the moments with the Frenchman, but the peerless control and calm he brings to the defence. Came to England to win trophies. He’s done that now. EPA -
Lisandro Martinez - 8: Prepared for Newcastle’s fast and furious start but needed attention after a clash of heads with Schar. Still continued to put his head where it could – and did – hurt. A brave performance and a fine understanding with Varane next to him. AP -
Luke Shaw - 7: Fantastic delivery for Casemiro to set up the opening goal. Attacked in the second and could have been more selfish with a 74th-minute break. Reuters -
Fred - 7: Got to a dangerous ball in his own area before Almiron. Booked after 36, but tireless until he was taken off after 69 against a side who started well, played well and remained a threat throughout. Reuters -
Casemiro - 8: MUFC’s most important player against a competent foe, he headed his side ahead after 35 minutes. Straight into the fans asking for more. Pulled back by Joelinton before the break, but vital in the second snuffing out the Geordie attacks. Booked late on. AFP -
Antony - 6: Weak shot on target on 16, then did well to win the ball back a minute later. Twisted and turned past opponents, which infuriated them at one point and led to Casemiro being fouled. He has some way to go, but he has his moments. Getty -
Bruno Fernandes - 7: Busy against Newcastle’s most dangerous player Guimaraes. Ten Hag admonished him at times. Broke on 78 with Rashford to his right, but defender Trippier ended the move. Did well to stop a corner coming in on 90 but a challenge saw cries for a penalty. Broke in time added on but couldn’t add a third. AFP -
Marcus Rashford - 7: A danger when he got the ball, with Newcastle either fouling him or being beaten by him. Struck the second, a crucial finish just before the break, which had a little help from Botman. Shot well saved by Karius on 73. Getty -
Wout Weghorst - 6; Ball to Rashford in an early counter, then held off four players to get the first shot on target on 12. Set up the second, a slide pass to Rashford. Fantastic movement before he unloaded a left-foot shot, which was well saved by Karius on 45. Getty -
SUBS: Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 9: On for Dalot at half-time. Wonderful tackle three minutes in to set up an attack. Created two chances at one end and cleared one at his own end within his first five minutes. Saint-Maximin was a threat in the first half. Much less in the second because of the South Londoner, who loves one-on-one defending. EPA -
Marcel Sabitzer - 8: On for Weghorst after 69 and won the ball back from a slide tackle in the middle before he set up Rashford. Shot over himself, then had a 77th minute shot blocked. Getty -
Scott McTominay -7: On for Fred after 69 as Ten Hag sought to protect his side’s lead. Headed a dangerous Trippier ball – aren’t they all? - away. Reuters -
Jadon Sancho - NA: On for Antony after 82, an illustration of the strength of depth on the MUFC bench. EPA -
Loris Karius - 5: There were so many eyes were on the goalkeeper ahead of his Newcastle debut, but Karius was given no chance by Casemiro and was unfortunate for the second goal. Made good saves to deny Weghorst, Rashford and Fernandes. PA -
Kieran Trippier - 6, Struggled against Rashford at times but was persistent. Also delivered a number of great crosses, including those to set up chances for Fabian Schar and Dan Burn. Did superbly to stop Fernandes’ pass to Rashford. AFP -
Fabian Schar - 4, Bravely won a header that went over the crossbar, but was eased out by Casemiro for the opener and did little to make things difficult for Weghorst in the build-up to the second. Put his team in trouble after getting tackled as he tried to run out from the back. Got booked after a coming together in the final moments. PA -
Sven Botman – 3, After already suffering from a couple of shaky moments, the Dutchman allowed Casemiro to get between him and Schar for the opener, then deflected Rashford’s shot past Karius for an own goal. Stupidly got himself booked for dissent and had some really sloppy moments towards the end. PA -
Dan Burn - 5, Was valiant in his defending against Antony but was toyed with at times in the first half, going on to make some big tackles in the second. Headed wide from a big opportunity and his long throws didn’t amount to much. Getty -
Bruno Guimaraes - 6, Slotted in seamlessly after seeing out a three-game suspension and showed his usual determination, but needlessly fouled Rashford to concede the free-kick that Casemiro scored the opener from. Getty -
Sean Longstaff - 6, Competed well and played a great pass across the face of goal that nobody got on the end of. PA -
Joelinton - 7, Put in a determined display but was too slow on the ball at times. Booked after smashing the ball at Antony and pulling down Casemiro out of frustration at the end of the first half. Unlucky to see two shots in quick succession blocked and an inventive header saved. PA -
Miguel Almiron - 6, Made some great bursts forward but couldn’t find the pass in a promising situation and hit a wild shot from another. Saw his shot blocked after a determined run and had a quiet second half. AFP -
Callum Wilson - 4, Was let down by a poor touch early on and his header towards goal was an unconvincing one. Saw a shot blocked after showing good awareness from a quick free-kick. AFP -
Allan Saint-Maximin - 6, Had bright moments and got Dalot booked inside the opening 10 minutes, then saw a strong shot blocked after showing quick feet in the box. Didn’t get anywhere near as much joy against Wan-Bissaka. AFP -
SUBS: Alexander Isak (Longstaff, HT) - 6, Made a determined burst forward with his first couple of contributions but faded out of the game as it went on. AFP -
Jacob Murphy (Saint-Maximin, 78’) – N/R, Won a corner moments after coming on and did brilliantly to prevent two breaks forward from the Red Devils, stopping Fernandes’ pass to Rashford and halting Antony. Sent a couple of ambitious strikes off target. PA -
Joe Willock (Guimaraes, 79’) – N/R, Showed some nice moments of quality but nothing that truly troubled United’s backline. Reuters -
Matt Ritchie (Wilson, 91’) – N/R, Showed a willingness to fight for the ball despite the game being out of reach. PA -
Elliot Anderson (Almiron, 91’) – N/R, Got involved in some pushing and shoving in the final moments. AFP
It is the club’s first trophy since the 2017 Europa League success, and if it has anything to do with their manager, it will not be the last.
Asked if it gave them something to build upon, Ten Hag said: “Of course.
“We are not only hoping, but to know that it is worth to invest, to know that it’s worth to suffer and to sacrifice and to know you have to give every day your best to celebrate.
“It’s all about that, it’s about glory and honour and if you want to prove something, if you want to win something, you have to do it otherwise you don’t get it because no-one is bringing something in top football.”
For Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe, it proved a sobering afternoon as his side failed to take their chances and were punished for their frailty at the back.
However, he insists the hurt will fuel the Magpies’ future quest to end their 54-year wait for tangible success.
Howe said: “It leaves us with a feeling of defeat in a final, which is never nice and we’re desperately disappointed, but already for me, you look to the future and you’re desperate to get back here and win a trophy.
“The supporters, who have been absolutely incredible for us this year, to see them disappointed at the end hurts, hurts badly, and the motivation and the thoughts are already going to how we can come back here and win them the trophy that they deserve.”
