Mourinho’s Chelsea Plan for Newcastle?
Newcastle United finally snagged a major trophy after 70 long years, and they did it in style, beating Premier League leaders Liverpool 2-1 in the Carabao Cup. It was a huge moment for fans everywhere. Icons like Kevin Keegan, Bobby Robson, Alan Shearer, and Paul Gascoigne are Newcastle legends, but even they didn’t get their hands on a trophy like Eddie Howe and his team just did. The Key to Chelsea’s Quadruple Bid.
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Mark Schwarzer, ex-Middlesbrough goalie, thinks this win could be a game-changer for Newcastle, like when Jose Mourinho used the League Cup to kickstart Chelsea’s dominance back in the day.
Toon Army Celebrates Big Time
For Newcastle supporters, this win was more than just silverware—it was pure joy. Fans went wild in London, Newcastle, and even Australia when the final whistle blew.
Michael Bridges, a former Newcastle player, was at Wembley for the win. He mentioned on The Optus Sport Football Podcast that it was a really personal moment, especially for families who’ve supported Newcastle for ages without seeing them win anything big.
My dad passed away without seeing Newcastle win, Bridges said. I was there with my cousin, who lost his father a couple of years ago, and my wife, who also lost her dad. We were all celebrating, thinking about how awesome this was.
He mentioned how big the win was, since even club legends, like Alan Shearer and Kevin Keegan, had never managed to win a trophy for St. James’ Park. It’s awesome what Eddie Howe and his players did. It’s huge. It’s a moment for the history books, he said. The Key to Chelsea’s Quadruple Bid.
What’s Next for Eddie Howe and Newcastle?
Eddie Howe is now the first Newcastle manager to win a trophy since Doug Livingstone. He’s also the first English manager to win a major English competition since Harry Redknapp won the FA Cup with Portsmouth in 2008.
Bridges thinks Howe deserves to be remembered for what he’s done. If Eddie Howe doesn’t get a statue now, that’s crazy! he said.
Newcastle’s win could be the start of something bigger. The club wants to be one of England’s top teams, and this trophy could be the thing that gets them there. The Key to Chelsea’s Quadruple Bid.
Newcastle Following Mourinho’s Chelsea Strategy?
Mark Schwarzer, who himself won the League Cup with Middlesbrough, sees similarities between what’s happening with Newcastle and how Chelsea rose to the top under Jose Mourinho. He said Mourinho used this trophy as a way to get to bigger things.
When Jose Mourinho joined Chelsea, he always used this tournament as a way to bigger achievements, Schwarzer said. Winning that first trophy gives teams confidence and gets them going, so they can aim for even more.
Newcastle is currently sixth in the Premier League, only two points away from a Champions League spot with a game in hand. Schwarzer thinks this Carabao Cup win could help them finish really strong. The Key to Chelsea’s Quadruple Bid.
This is Newcastle’s time, he said. I think they’ll get on a roll, just like Chelsea did under Mourinho.
Newcastle’s Next Game
After the international break, Newcastle is back in Premier League action on April 3 (AEDT) against Brentford. You can watch the game live on Optus Sport, as Howe’s team tries to continue their momentum from the Carabao Cup win and push for a spot in Europe.
Now that they’ve ended their trophy drought, Newcastle has a chance to aim even higher. Could this be the start of a new period where they dominate? We’ll have to wait and see. The Key to Chelsea’s Quadruple Bid.
Chelsea’s Quadruple Dream: Lucy Bronze the Key?
After winning the League Cup against Manchester City, Chelsea is now aiming for Champions League glory. They’re close to winning a quadruple, and Lucy Bronze could be the key to their European chances.
At 33, Bronze has had an impressive career, with 24 domestic and five international trophies. She’s also won pretty much every individual award out there, proving that even a right-back can be a game-changer.
Even though Chelsea hasn’t lost a game this season, Bronze didn’t want to hear the invincible talk before their League Cup final against City. She said it didn’t mean anything until they actually won something. Now that they’ve won the League Cup, Chelsea is ready for the Champions League, where they’ll face City again in the quarter-final first leg.
Is Lucy Bronze the Missing Star?
On the Women’s Football Wrap on Optus Sport, Ashleigh Sykes, formerly with the Matildas, said that Bronze, who joined Chelsea last summer from Barcelona, could be what they need to win the quadruple.
They’re closer now! Sykes said. Lucy Bronze told everyone that Chelsea was being called invincible, but reminded everyone they hadn’t won anything yet. Now they’ve got a trophy in the bag.
Sykes also said that Bronze is good at winning quadruples, since she’s done it twice before—once with Lyon and again with Barcelona.
Maybe she’s the good luck charm for Chelsea? Sykes wondered.
Chelsea Reaching for History
Only one English club has ever won the Champions League and a quadruple—Arsenal. They did it back in the 2006/07 season, beating Umea, a Swedish team with the legendary Marta, in the Champions League final.
It’s interesting that Alex Scott, who Bronze eventually replaced in the England team, scored the winning goal in Arsenal’s European win. Chelsea almost won the Champions League in 2021 but lost 4-0 to Barcelona in the final, with Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati putting on a show.
Can Chelsea Finally Win in Europe?
Lucy Bronze is the only Chelsea player who has won a quadruple before. She’s done it twice at two of the biggest clubs in women’s soccer and has come close a few other times.
Bronze thinks Chelsea’s deep squad, which has tons of top players, is ready to win something historic. She always mentions how important a strong squad is for winning big.
I think that’s what makes a top team, Bronze told ESPN. I’ve won quadruples with both Lyon and Barcelona, and those teams never relied on just one player.
Chelsea has been great this season. They’ve had 14 different goalscorers in the WSL, scoring 45 goals in 16 games. They also played well in their Champions League group, with 19 goals from 11 different players, proving they have a lot of depth.
Will Sam Kerr Return?
Chelsea showed how much depth they have when they quickly signed Mayra Ramirez after Sam Kerr injured her ACL, even though they already had Mia Fishel, Cat Macario, Aggie Beever-Jones, Lauren James, and Fran Kirby.
Now, Kerr is in Chelsea’s squad for the Champions League knockout rounds, which has a lot of people wondering if she’ll be back soon.
Sykes called Kerr’s inclusion a good sign but said to take it with a grain of salt.
It’s a big question, isn’t it? she said on the Women’s Football Wrap. These tournaments need longer squad lists, so we don’t know if we’ll see her soon or later. But her being included is a good thing.
With Chelsea trying to win a quadruple, their mix of experienced players like Bronze and players who might be returning from injury like Kerr could be what they need to finally win the Champions League trophy.
