In the early morning of January 8 (Vietnam time), Newcastle defeated Arsenal 2-0 at the Emirates in the first leg of the English League Cup semi-final. Despite a busy schedule in the Premier League, they still fielded a strong squad and fought with determination. More than anyone, Eddie Howe and his team needed this championship.
As Newcastle reach the 2023 EFL Cup final at Wembley, thousands of fans will flock to London's Trafalgar Square, drenching the capital in the club's iconic black and white colours on the eve of the game against Manchester United.
In the end, the Red Devils lifted the trophy with a 2-0 win thanks to goals from Casemiro and Marcus Rashford, but the emotional reaction from Newcastle fans was proof of how hungry they were for the title.
The club's last major trophy came in 1955, when they beat Manchester City 3-1 in the FA Cup final. Under owner Mike Ashley, they fell into disrepair.
But Newcastle were resurrected when they were taken over by wealthy new owners from Saudi Arabia in 2021. This backing brings a lot of optimism for the future, and the club's nearly 70-year wait for a major trophy must end as soon as possible.
After 3 years, from a mid-range team, the Magpies participated in the Champions League once and finished in 7th place once, almost participating in the UEFA Conference League.
This season, after going through a difficult period in September-October, coach Eddie Howe's team is currently in very good form. They have won all 6 recent matches in all competitions, including 5 matches in the Premier League.
If they can win the League Cup next month, Newcastle will have lifted their status, confirming that the North East giants have awoken from their long slumber.
Similar to Newcastle, Tottenham are also determined to win the English League Cup to end their thirst for titles. For coach Ange Postecoglou, he needs this trophy to ensure his position. Spurs have only won 3 of their last 14 matches in all competitions. Fans are starting to be dissatisfied and boo him in recent matches.
Postecoglou joined Tottenham with the hope of taking the team to compete on the biggest stages, but most Spurs fans are just hoping for a trophy, whatever it is. The team has not won a major trophy since 2008.
With the Premier League season just over halfway through, both Newcastle and Spurs are almost certainly out of contention for the top spot. They face a race to secure a place in next season's European Cup.
Newcastle are in 5th place, so they still have a good chance of qualifying for the Champions League. But Tottenham are struggling in 12th place. The winner of the English League Cup also has the privilege of entering the UEFA Conference League play-off round. This is even more meaningful for Spurs when their performance in the top flight of England is miserable.
If they want to reach Wembley in March, the Roosters will have to overcome Liverpool in the two semi-finals. In the other match, Newcastle have a big advantage with a 2-0 lead from the first leg.
