Erik ten Hag delights in ending trophy drought with EFL Cup win over Newcastle – ‘Man Utd stands for trophies’

United have endured a difficult, fallow period under a number of managers since the departure of managerial great Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013.

But Ten Hag appears different from the others, coaxing consistent performance levels from a previously disparate group – and it was this togetherness he saluted in the aftermath of the Red Devils’ win, which came thanks to goals from Casemiro and a Sven Botman own goal.

Responding to a question from Sky Sports’ Gary Neville on whether he had been surprised by how fast his team has gelled, Ten Hag said: “I just want to win!”

“We invested from the start of the season with the staff, they did an incredible job, with the players – staff and players they are together.

“Together [are] also the fans, [it’s] really surprising how the fans stay, and there’s real hungerness and a desire for trophies, because Man United stands for trophies.

“Raphael Varane, Casemiro and David de Gea know how to win trophies and you need such lads on the pitch to point the team.

“They have the winning attitude they have to bring it in the dressing room, in difficult situations and that is what they have done.”

Midfielder and skipper Bruno Fernandes echoed Ten Hag’s thoughts, and was at pains to make clear that this first trophy of the Ten Hag era should not be a one-off.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” Fernandes said. “We have been searching for this moment. Us the fans and clubs and all together, finally get our trophy and I think deservedly.

“It has been an amazing period, first trophy of the season but we want more it is not enough for this club, we want more and we need more because our standards demand more.

“For me it was about winning trophies and finally we did it. I am satisfied but I want more. I want much more.”

Beaten Newcastle boss Eddie Howe cut a contrastingly dejected figure at full-time, highlighting a need to “bridge the gap” to the top sides in England.

“Individually and collectively I thought we played well but it just didn’t happen in the box and we need to work on that,” Howe told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“I can’t take positives from losing but I can from the performance. They’ve been committed and give everything for the club.

“I’m sorry we couldn’t deliver for the fans today.

“The competition we are in now is at a very high level and we need to bridge that gap. Games are decided by small margins so we need to improve and hopefully we can enjoy more days like this.”