eleven
As Manchester United players climbed the stairs to reach the Carabao Cup trophy after their victory over Newcastle, an exasperated Gary Neville spoke eleven words of prediction.
“That team will be dangerous with a medal around their neck.”
It was a prediction that might well prove true more immediately than he would have expected, if recent history is anything to go by.
Before United lifted their first trophy in six years, seven of the last nine Carabao Cup winners had lifted at least one more trophy by the end of their season.
It just goes to show that winning is a habit, one that builds confidence and makes a team dangerous to their opponents.
And while Manchester United are still in a period of transition after their years in the wild, with last season being a particular low point, Erik ten Hag could well have taken a big step forward to return the club to its heights. elevated.
Lisandro Martínez lifted a World Cup just three months ago, while Casemiro and Raphael Varane had won 13 trophies together before tonight’s game.
Casemiro and Raphaël Varane have won their 14th trophy together:
???????????????? UCL???????? La Liga???????? Spanish Super Cup???????? UEFA Super Cup???????? Club World Cup???? Copa del Rey???? EFL Cup ????
The first in Red. ???? pic.twitter.com/s0j4uLMvOv
– Squawka (@Squawka) February 26, 2023
But it was telling that they all celebrated winning the Carabao Cup, their first trophy as Manchester United players, with as much enthusiasm as their previous accolades.
It may be that this means so much precisely because they know how big the first step can be, how hard it is to get the ball rolling.
Perhaps they know that Manchester United are now dangerous once again because this team has tasted victory after a difficult abstinence that might not have ended if they hadn’t been able to beat Newcastle tonight.
The Red Devils started the day as the only English team still competing on four fronts and ended it by competing on three.
Recent history says that there is a good chance of winning in at least one more.
