Newcastle United may not have emerged victorious at Wembley Stadium on Sunday but chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan got a glimpse at the extraordinary football club he is now a part of.
The chair of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund was one of many big name guests in the Royal Box at the national stadium as Newcastle attempted to end their well-documented wait for silverware. However, it wasn't to be on the pitch as the Magpies failed to bite back after being stunned by two Manchester United goals in six first-half minutes.
The scenes in the stands, however, were a sight to behold and will provide everyone associated with the club the hunger to go again in the years to come. Eddie Howe was quizzed about Al-Rumayyan's attendance at the cup final and spoke of a brief yet positive moment with the club chairman as his side went to begrudgingly collect their runners up medals.
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“I think he will probably have been interested in today as a whole, especially the atmosphere and the experience," Howe told reporters. "I’m sure he’ll be disappointed to lose, as we all are at Newcastle. From my little embrace when we picked up our medals he was very positive.”
Reaching a final is a fantastic achievement for a team languishing dangerously close to the relegation zone as recently as 12 months ago. But PIF, along with Amanda Staveley, Mehrdad Ghoudoussi and Jamie Reuben, want to go one step further.
Newcastle were the pre-match underdogs in the capital this weekend for good reason. Erik ten Hag's Manchester United are enjoying a tremendous run of form and have an abundance of talent in their ranks.
For all Howe can also call on impressive outlets, the big-game experience of Casemiro, Raphael Varane, Bruno Fernandes, David de Gea and Marcus Rashford was evident at Wembley.
The Newcastle ownership will be aware of the fact this team is punching above its weight and well ahead of schedule. The next few transfer windows will prove key as Newcastle try to add some experienced heads to their camp.
“I hope [this is just the start], but the competition is very, very high, so we have to improve," Howe added. "We can't stand still, we can't think that we're something at this moment in time.
"We have to prove we are and so next year in these competitions, the FA Cup and League Cup, we have to go again with the intention of trying to win."
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