Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes is determined to swap heartache for joy when he leads the Magpies into Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Liverpool at Wembley.
Having endured the pain of defeat at the same stage two years ago, the 27-year-old Brazilian midfielder has his sights set on ending the club’s 56-year trophy drought.
Reflecting on Newcastle’s 2-0 loss to Manchester United in the 2023 final, Guimaraes is driven to ensure that this time, the story ends differently.
“I want tears of happiness this time,” the captain declared, recalling the emotional scenes that symbolized Newcastle’s longing for silverware.
The Magpies’ previous trip to Wembley was their first since the 2000 FA Cup semi-final under Sir Bobby Robson. Rob Lee, whose goal in that game remains the last Newcastle strike at the iconic venue, offered his encouragement, with Guimaraes playfully hoping some luck rubbed off after touching Lee’s feet.
Sunday’s clash with Liverpool presents Newcastle with an uphill battle, given the 17-game winless run against their opponents.
Yet, head coach Eddie Howe rejects the notion of a curse, emphasizing instead the importance of delivering a performance worthy of victory. “Destiny is in our own hands,” Howe affirmed. “We just need to play to our maximum.”
For Guimaraes, lifting the cup is a vision he has carried since Newcastle secured their place in the final. However, he remains cautious about letting emotions run too high before the final whistle. “I’ve imagined myself lifting the trophy many times,” he admitted. “But first, we have to focus on the game.”
