Newcastle United’s defence of the Carabao Cup lasted longer than Crystal Palace’s of the FA Cup. They ended about 20 miles away, but in different worlds: one at Manchester City, the other at Macclesfield. One cup defeat was predictable, the other was among the greatest shocks ever in the competition. Yet if both domestic cups will have different winners this year, the previous pair were different winners.
The historic nature of Newcastle’s triumph – a first piece of major silverware since 1969, a first in domestic football since 1955 – prompted the question if it was a stepping stone. The new chief executive David Hopkinson spoke of an ambition to be the top club in the world by 2030.
