Erik Ten Hag in high spirits after ending trophy drought for United

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By Martin Graham | 28th Feb 2023

Erik ten Hag wins his first trophy as Manchester United manager and leads the club to their first trophy in six years.

Manchester United defeated Newcastle with an impressive display of team spirit to show how much the team has improved under Erik ten Hag.

Manchester United has struggled to pick up silverware since it last won the Europa League six years ago. A series of defeats in knockout stages, semi-finals, and finals across competitions has been frustrating for the club.

Finally, the frustrating wait is over for the Red Devils. The new manager, Erik ten Hag, has led the club to its first silverware in six years after defeating Newcastle 2-0 in the Carabao Cup final.

There were memorable scenes of celebration to last a lifetime as Manchester United fans, the players, and the manager celebrated after the final whistle was blown at Wembley.

The exciting win at the capital is the first taste of silverware in England for Erik ten Hag, and he will now be on the hunt to win more with his team.

Erik ten Hag praises his team’s winning mentality

In the buildup to the Carabao Cup final, United defeated Barcelona in the Europa League playoffs, and this put the team in high spirits ahead of the final against Newcastle in Wembley.

The players were able to bring that fighting spirit to the final just two days after the clash with Barcelona, and their manager had a lot of praise for their ability to step up to the challenge.

Erik ten Hag said: “If you take that into account [the Barcelona win three days before], it’s a massive perforrmance, that we can deliver this. It tells you we are physically fit, mentally fit. We have to suffer. We have to sacrifice every day to win trophies. It’s about glory and honour and, if you want to win something, you have to do it. Otherwise, you don’t get it.”

He went on to praise the team spirit, and the winning mentality top players have brought to the team which has now spread to all the players.

“It was definitely the right spirit, there is very good spirit in the team. We act as a team and fight for everything. We beat them, it was not always the best football but I think it was effective. What you see is they are really well connected with each other – also they challenge each other and, in moments, they help each other when it’s difficult. It’s great to see. I think it’s the best a manager can get.”

What does this win mean for Manchester United’s ambitions?

Erik ten Hag spoke on United’s journey to achieving this win, and what it means for the project he and the club have started.

“We invested from the start of the season with the staff. I want to say the staff did an incredibly good job with the players but also the staff and players are together. Also, you see the fans, they stay, and it was really harmonious, and the desire is for trophies.”

“It shows something, silverware, that you are on a good pathway, a good direction. It is one cup, it’s February, but it shows we are on the right path. This has to be the motivation to continue on this pathway. Be happy for 24 hours but not satisfied.”

He also added that the win means so much to the club and so it must be celebrated, but after that the team must return its focus to other objectives.

“You have to celebrate, because it’s not business as usual, it’s not a common day. We won a trophy and this means something, that’s the feeling I get here in the UK. We won something, we have to celebrate that but, after you, have to keep going. The players know we have a big game on Wednesday [against West Ham United in the Emirates FA Cup at Old Trafford].”

This is just the first one more will come

Erik ten Hag is confident he can restore the club to its glory days. He insists this win is just the first of many to come.

He said: “First, we have to win the first one [trophy] and that is what we did today. I think we get a lot of inspiration from this and also more confidence that we can do it. We are still at the start to restore Manchester United back to where we belong, that is winning trophies. This is the first one.”