Newcastle United to 'pare back' media involvement leading into Carabao Cup final after learning lessons from two years ago

In 2023 Newcastle United were heading to Wembley for the first time in decades, and the excitement of the occasion certainly overwhelmed the club.

Newcastle went on their worst run of form of the entire season in the run-up to the final, with the impending final identified as a distraction that derailed the team's performances.

With the Magpies once again Wembley-bound, the expectation is that they will treat the occasion differently this time around and will aim to stay grounded and keep focused on the task at hand.

Now that the initial Wembley return fever has passed, it's a bit less of a novelty for the squad, and the hope is that it won't be as big of a distraction this time around.

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Eddie Howe is taking steps to ensure his team stay focused

That being said, Eddie Howe is taking steps to facilitate this according to Chris Waugh, who was asked as part of his Q&A in The Athletic what is being done to keep the team grounded.

"Expect there to be far less in terms of pre-final output. I do not envisage many one-on-one interviews, if any, with written journalists, and even the “media day” Newcastle put on two years ago, when three players and Howe did a carousel of interviews, is set to be pared back.

"Howe does not want any distractions and he believes positive lessons can be taken from two years ago to ensure Newcastle do actually win the Carabao Cup this time."

The press circuit was never-ending in 2023

The players did a lot of press last time around, which won't have helped them to put the final out of their minds, so it was little surprise that the run of form heading into the final suffered, and ultimately the result on the day going the wrong way.

Given that Newcastle face Liverpool, their most bogiest of bogey teams, this final is arguably going to be much harder than the one from two years ago, so keeping focused is going to be key.

We can absolutely do it, though. We just have to believe.