The wealth of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has transformed Newcastle United, but the character of clubs is not changed overnight. Newcastle has not won any major trophy since 1969 and no domestic silverware since 1955. If the investment carries on as it has in the 18 months since the takeover, success will surely come, but it is not there yet: A 2–0 defeat to Manchester United in the League Cup final was a fourth cup final lost in the past half-century.
For Manchester United, this was its sixth League Cup and, perhaps, the most significant of those trophies. It was six years to the day since a United side managed by José Mourinho and inspired by Zlatan Ibrahimović beat Southampton in the final, which for a club of its stature and with its history is, in the modern game, a very long wait.
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