That’s it for today’s blog. Thanks for your company and emails; I’ll leave you with Dave Hytner’s match report from Wembley. Congratulations to Manchester United, commiserations to Newcastle – goodnight.
And here’s the main man, Erik ten Hag
We showed the right spirit – we fought and gave everything, as a team. It wasn’t always the best football but it was effective. You have to win the first [trophy], and that is what we did today. You can take inspiration from this, but also more confidence. We are still at the start [of the process] to restore Man United to where they belong.
[On the team spirit] They are really good collectively. Also, they challenge each other, which needs to happen. It’s a good dressing-room. When it’s difficult they help each other out. It’s great to see, and I think it’s the best a manager can get.
[Are you surprised the players have done so well so early in your reign?] I don’t know, I just want to win. We invested from the start of the season, with the staff – I want to say that they have done an incredible job – and the staff and players are together. There is a hunger and desire for trophies.
[Champagne tonight?] Champagne for the manager and the staff. We’ll rest the players, they have a big game on Wednesday!
[On his dancing] We have a history of this [with Antony and Martinez], I hope we can do it more often!
[On Casemiro] I said before the game: Rapha Varane, Casemiro, David de Gea, they know how to win trophies. You need lads like that on the pitch, to coach the team and organise them, and especially for their mentality. The winning attitude is so important.
