Sir Alex Ferguson's advice could be about to pay off for Manchester United and Erik ten Hag

After sending Barcelona packing in the Europa League on Thursday night, Manchester United will be dreaming of ending their six-year drought without a trophy when they face Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley this afternoon.

The Reds, who will face Real Betis in the last-16 of the Europa League as a reward for getting the better of La Liga's table-toppers, will be determined to continue their excellent run of form and scoop their first trophy of the Erik ten Hag era. Although Newcastle will have strong ambitions of ending their own dry spell without any silverware, United will have the bit between their teeth after their midweek heroics and will head into the clash underneath the iconic Wembley Arch as favourites.

United comfortably dispatched of Nottingham Forest at the semi-final stage to book their first Wembley visit since July 2020, winning 5-0 on aggregate. Their 3-0 win at the City Ground in the first-leg meant the tie was as good as over by the halfway stage. Train tickets to London have long since been booked.

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Although not many United supporters, when Wayne Rooney held the Europa League trophy aloft in Stockholm in May 2017, which marked their third trophy win of the 2016/17 campaign, would have envisioned ending their trophy drought six years later in the form of the Carabao Cup, it is a competition that the club deserves to have reached the final of this season. Right from the outset of their Carabao Cup adventure, Ten Hag has taken it seriously and has shown the competition the respect it deserves.

He has refused to use it as a breeding ground for young players to experience the thrill of