Roy Keane chanced his luck as he jokingly asked Erik ten Hag for tickets to the Carabao Cup final but claimed "I'm not paying".
The former Manchester United captain watched on as the Red Devils knocked out Nottingham Forest, another of his former sides, in the last four to advance to the final. The hosts secured a comfortable 2-0 win at Old Trafford to finish as 5-0 aggregate victors with Newcastle now lying in wait.
United last faced the Magpies in a final back in the 1999 FA Cup - a game in which Keane played - as the Manchester outfit claimed a historic treble. Nowadays they're trying to end a six-year wait for a trophy and Keane is hoping to be there, if Ten Hag can sort him out.
He said on Sky Sports after the game as he chatted with the United boss: "And if you've got any spare tickets for the final, you'd let me know, just two complimentary if that's okay?" Ten Hag responded: "Yes I think so Roy, no problem." Keane jokingly then made his request clear: "Complimentary though, I'm not paying," which left his colleagues in fits of laughter.
United's clash with Newcastle will come at the end of February, after a gruelling month that will see them compete in three different competitions. The two sides have already squared off this season, playing out a goalless draw at Old Trafford.
The Magpies present a genuine challenge such has been their rise over the past 18 months. Eddie Howe has Newcastle pushing for the Champions League and they currently sit above United in the league courtesy of their superior goal difference.
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Ten Hag remains focused on other matters for now, though, insisting simply reaching the final isn't the goal they want to achieve. He said: "It's great. Finals, you play them to win. It's not an achievement to come into a final. We want to win. First, we have other things to do, and come back to the Premier League.
"I told the players as well, you have to bring it every game. They have to bring the intensity and we are United. When you are a United player, you have to match the standards. We are looking forward, it's great to go to Wembley. To go and face Newcastle United, which is a great team, but it is far away for us now.
"I just said to everybody, we are looking forward to the Premier League and Saturday against Crystal Palace. We bury the cup and focus on the next week."
The Carabao Cup final will take place at Wembley Stadium on Sunday February 26.
