Two goals in quick succession after half an hour of play, a deflection of Casemiro's uncrossed header from a free kick and a throw-in from Marcus Rashford deflected into his goal by Sven Botman, made the difference.

The first trophy awarded in England of the season, the League Cup may seem like a very modest reward on the scale of the club's record, but the supporters did not shy away from their pleasure after what must have seemed like an eternity.

Their wait was certainly shorter than that of Newcastle fans, whose last final was the FA Cup in 1999, and the last title at the European Fairs Cup, the first version of the C3, in 1969.

On the player side, only David de Gea and Marcus Rashford were victorious against Southampton (3-2), in 2017, in the same competition, with a double from Zaltan Ibrahimovic.

Anthony Martial too, but he is currently injured.

Manchester United player Marcus Rashford hits the ball with a header in the English League Cup match won 2-0 against Newcastle at Wembley Stadium on February 26, 2023. © Glyn KIRK / AFP

Three months after this coronation, the Red Devils had also won the Europa League, but had only finished 6th in the championship.

Management and control

They could do better this year, as they have qualified for the knockout stages of the C3 and the FA Cup, as well as 3rd in the league.

The mastery they have shown in the management of this major meeting can give them confidence for the future.

Against the Magpies, 5th and best defense in the championship, they knew how to be patient and realistic, before defending their advantage without much fear, De Gea appropriating the record of matches without conceding a goal in the club, with 181, exceeding Peter Schmeichel.

We could blame them for a lack of will to hurt the opponent even more on the counter.

But the influx left Thursday in the return match against Barcelona to snatch qualification in C3 after being led to the score (2-2, 2-1), and the fact that it is already their 19th match in two months and five days since the return of the World – against the 14th for their opponents –, encourages leniency on this point.

It must be said that the attack will undoubtedly be the big construction site of the summer on the Newcastle side, which started in 4-5-1 before going to 4-4-2 after the break with the entry of Alexander Isak, the Swedish striker bought 70 million euros this summer but is struggling to adapt to English football.

A success that calls for others

Everything settled down after half an hour of play and the "Toons", another nickname for the players in black and white, will long think back to this dance step with which Allan Saint-Maximin got rid of Diogo Dalot before seeing his strike from a closed angle repelled by a headline by David de Gea (32nd).

On the following action, Manchester obtained a free kick on the left, shot by Luke Shaw and which found the victorious header from Casemiro (1-0, 33rd).

Barely a few minutes later, Wout Weghorst launched Rashford perfectly into the area which caused Botman's counterattack (2-0, 39th).

Replacing Nick Pope, the English international goalkeeper expelled during the match against Liverpool, Loris Karius had nothing to reproach himself for his first match for two years.

Newcastle football team goalkeeper Loris Karius in the English League Cup final lost 2-0 to Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on February 26, 2023. © Glyn KIRK / AFP

He even made three good saves on a curling long shot from Weghorst (45 + 3), a low shot from Rashford (74th) and in a face-to-face with Bruno Fernandes in added time.

Newcastle full-back Dan Burn nearly got the black and white half of Wembley up on a header in the 43rd, but it was ultimately off target.

And in the 68th minute, two Manchester defenders had to block their bodies on two strikes at the entrance to the surface to offer the first success of the Ten Hag era, which seems to call for others.

© 2023 AFP