Newcastle United are still basking in the glow of finally winning a trophy but Micah Richards has pointed out a baffling mistake one player made against Liverpool.
The 70-year wait for a trophy came to an end in euphoric fashion on Sunday as Newcastle United defeated Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.
It was a dramatic day at Wembley but the Magpies were by far the better team as goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak in each half secured the silverware.
Newcastle players and fans alike celebrated long into the night, though poor Sam Fender was busy playing a gig in Berlin and changing his lyrics to honour Burn.
Yet, it all came perilously close to ending in heartbreak for Eddie Howe’s team after Liverpool pulled one back late on through Federico Chiesa.
Though Howe and Isak both feel it should have been disallowed, it was captain Bruno Guimaraes’s mistake that led to the goal.
It left Micah Richards bewildered as to what he was even trying to do when he lost the ball.
Bruno Guimaraes gets away with a terrible mistake in Carabao Cup final
Newcastle were so comfortable three minutes into a massive eight minutes of added time that the commentators had already crowned them champions.
However, a late spanner was thrown in the works when Chiesa stuck the ball between Nick Pope’s legs to set up a final few minutes of agony.
It was Guimareas who lost the ball in midfield to allow Liverpool to spring a counter, with the Brazilian dispossessed as he attempted a piece of skill.
Kieran Trippier admitted he was fuming with Guiarmares, meanwhile, speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Richards was left perplexed.
He said: “You know the goal for 2-1, Chiesa’s goal. I’m just thinking, Bruno, what? He’s trying to do a Maradona turn in the middle of the field.
“That was the only mistake they made throughout the game. And I’m not putting, that’s not a strain on that performance.
“The energy that they had was just remarkable.”
Newcastle qualify for Europe after Carabao Cup win
Thankfully, Guimaraes’ mistake is now long forgotten and it did not take away from the £35m man’s remarkable performance alongside Sandro Tonali and Joelinton in midfield.
While Newcastle finally getting their hands on a trophy was the only thing that mattered, the benefits going forward could be massive.
Manchester City won four League Cups on the spin at the peak of their powers under Pep Guardiola and the manager always maintained it was a good springboard to go and win more.
Newcastle can’t claim another trophy this season but they are hungry for more in the next campaign.
It could come in Europe, as Newcastle are now the first team in England to secure a spot in next year’s continental competitions.
They are now guaranteed to be in the Europa Conference League but will be hoping they can still make it to the Champions League.
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