Erik ten Hag warns against 'laziness' after Man United beat Newcastle to win Carabao Cup

A 2-0 victory over Newcastle United in Sunday's final ends six-year wait for a title

Manchester United's players celebrate with the League Cup trophy after their 2-0 victory over Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, February 26, 2023. PA

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire lift the trophy. Reuters

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag with coaching staff celebrate with the trophy. Reuters

Manchester United's Diogo Dalot and Raphael Varane celebrate at the final whistle. AFP

Manchester United's Lisandro Martinez celebrates. AFP

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford and Casemiro celebrate their victory. AFP

Manchester United's Casemiro and Luke Shaw after the final whistle. Reuters

Manchester United players celebrate their victory. AP

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag and Marcus Rashford celebrate after winning the League Cup final. AP

Manchester United players celebrate winning the League Cup. PA

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe consoles Bruno Guimaraes after the final whistle. AP

Newcastle's Miguel Almiron, Fabian Schaer and Sven Botman after the game. AP

Manchester United's Casemiro scores their first goal against Newcastle United in the League Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, February 26, 2023. PA

Manchester United's Casemiro scores the opener. AP

Loris Karius of Newcastle United fails to save the Manchester United first goal scored by Casemiro. Getty

Casemiro celebrates his goal. Reuters

Manchester United players celebrate Casemiro's opening goal. Reuters

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford celebrates scoring their second goal. Reuters

Marcus Rashford's shot is deflected past Newcastle United goalkeeper Loris Karius for the second goal for Manchester United. EPA

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford celebrates after scoring their second goal. AP

Manchester United's David de Gea celebrates after Marcus Rashford's goal. Reuters

Newcastle's Joelinton challenges for the ball with Manchester United's Casemiro, left, and Antony. AP

Referee David Coote shows a yellow card to Manchester United's Diogo Dalot. AP

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe and Manchester United's Erik ten Hag on the touchline. AFP

Callum Wilson of Newcastle United is spoken to by referee David Coote. Getty

Lisandro Martinez of Manchester United passes the ball under pressure from Miguel Almiron of Newcastle. Getty

Newcastle United's Sven Botman in action with Manchester United's Wout Weghorst. Reuters

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe talks to Dan Burn. Reuters

Wout Weghorst of Manchester United shoots. Getty

Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes is challenged by Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes. AP

Fabian Schaer of Newcastle United and Lisandro Martinez of Manchester United after clashing heads. Getty

Lisandro Martinez of Manchester United receives medical treatment after a clash of heads. Getty

Manchester United's Diogo Dalot in action with Newcastle United's Joelinton. Reuters

Manchester United's Fred and Newcastle United's Sean Longstaff battle. PA

Antony of Manchester United on the charge. Getty

Newcastle fans wave flags before the kick-off. AFP

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson in the stands before the match. Reuters

Newcastle United fans at Wembley Stadium. PA

Newcastle fans before kick-off. AFP

A tribute to the late English football commentator John Motson at Wembley. Getty

Newcastle United chairman Yasir Al Rumayyan and director Amanda Staveley before the kick-off. AP

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

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.”