A glimpse of what Newcastle United can become - but a painful reminder of how far they’ve got to go.
The Geordie fans owned Wembley with a flag display worthy of a trophy. But it’s ruthless, world class talent on the pitch that collects silverware, and Eddie Howe’s side - only £250m and eight players into a rebuild from relegation - haven’t yet got enough.
Howe admitted Newcastle ’s Carabao Cup final crash “hurts because you feel like you’ve failed". The United coach delivered a harsh verdict as Newcastle lost their fifth consecutive Wembley final and their trophy drought dating back to 1969 continues.
They were undone by first half goals from Casemiro and a Sven Botman own goal deflection. But Howe pledged to rebuild and bounce back and said: “It really hurts but I've taken positive from painful experiences before and I'll try and see if I can do it again.
“We're desperate to get back here and win a trophy. It's disappointing and it hurts badly to see the supporters who have been amazing for us this season.
“Our intent was to be brave as we have been all season. It's decided on big moments and the free-kick we've not defended well enough."
The age-old question continues to hang over Newcastle. Amazing fanbase. But when will we ever see them win a cup?
Despondency of defeat will be softened by the belief they will compete with the elite soon, because of controversial Saudi cash.
It’s five Wembley final defeats in a row now. The FA Cup in 1974, 1998 and 1999. The League Cup in 1976 and this jolt to get better.
Eddie Howe is the 29th permanent manager to have tried and (so far) failed to deliver silverware since their last domestic trophy win in 1955.
Among them Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish, Sir Bobby Robson, Graham Souness, Steve McClaren, Rafa Benitez and Steve Bruce.
At least the tens of thousands of fans who gathered in Trafalgar Square on Saturday night got to celebrate their city’s rise. They even went around with bin bags clearing up the beer cans.
However early season momentum has ebbed away, and energetic zip, lost.
Howe’s men didn’t take their chances in the first half, were aggressive in the second half, but hardly opened up the Old Trafford giants.
The 1969 Fairs Cup win in Europe - 54 years ago and days before man walked on the moon - remains their most recent success. They’ve tried 41 times to win the top flight, had 54 FA Cup campaigns and 54 goes at the league cup. Eight cracks at the UEFA Cup of Europa League, three Champions League campaigns, and a Cup winners cup bid.
Half a million miles travelled, and nothing to show. The Saudi’s won’t spend money to be plucky losers isn’t the plan in the future.
This may be the first flickerings of a new era of success fuelled by Saudi money and ambition, the purity of which will be questioned.
Newcastle’s link to a Saudi regime complicates their revival. They are 80pc owned by the PIF, the government’s investment arm. Saudi rulers are condemned for unjust jailings, human rights abuses and executions.
The fans who have stuck with their club through barren decades have no influence on global politics or human rights practices.
Their birthright is to turn up and cheer their team, their city. Those fans earned their return to the top table, even if their team hasn’t just yet.
