Eddie Howe refuses to acknowledge any talk of a “curse” surrounding Newcastle.
Instead, he encourages his players to view the club’s 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy as motivation to become heroes when they face Liverpool.
Wembley used to be a lucky ground for Newcastle, with the team winning their first five appearances there.
However, legend has it that after their 1955 FA Cup victory, a group of travelers were evicted from Newcastle’s training grounds.
In retaliation, they supposedly placed a curse on the team.
Since then, Newcastle has lost five Wembley finals in a row, but Howe has sent a strong message to fans who believe in this hex.
Howe stated, “I don’t subscribe to that way of thinking.”
“Negative outcomes aren’t inevitable.”
“I acknowledge the finals record isn’t ideal, but I also consider our Champions League qualification, achieved late in the season.”
“It was a close call, but we succeeded.”
“There are examples of our success, and reaching any final is a significant achievement. They are very hard to reach.”
“Now that we’re here, we aim to perform at our absolute best.”
“Destiny is in our hands. I won’t even mention the word ‘curse’; it’s not part of our mindset. It’s about delivering a strong performance if we can.”
“Thinking about winning – that’s exciting.”
Joe Harvey was the last Newcastle manager to win a major domestic trophy in 1955.
Howe added, “I understand that for many, this history might seem negative, but we’re choosing to see it differently.”
“This is an opportunity for us to make history as a team. Such chances are rare in football.”
“It’s a chance to be remembered positively.”
Howe needs to decide between Nick Pope and Martin Dubravka for the goalkeeper position.
Anthony Gordon is suspended, and defenders Lewis Hall and Sven Botman are injured.
Newcastle’s main challenge will be stopping Mo Salah.
The Egyptian player has remarkably been involved in 18 goals in 16 matches against Newcastle.
But Howe commented, “I deeply respect him as a footballer.”
“However, my focus is always on the team and ensuring our overall structure is effective, rather than focusing on individual players.”
