Fan opinion: I'll feel every moment of this Carabao Cup final!

That Erik ten Hag has delivered an opportunity to win silverware at the earliest possible opportunity is a measure of both his and the squad’s hard work this season.

Such progress was defined by Thursday’s stunning Europa League victory over La Liga leaders Barcelona.

Few would have expected such strides so quickly in a maiden year that could produce our first trophy since we wrapped up both of the aforementioned competitions in 2016/17.

Today means an awful lot to two giant clubs who carry tremendous support wherever they go. Our revival under Ten Hag has been built via a few key principles that fans hold dear to their hearts; playing fast-paced football, battling for each other and having our players reflect the passion of Reds followers back at them. You only need to look at the post-Barca celebrations to understand that final point might be the most powerful of all.

This connection means I will feel every single moment from today’s final in my body. Every crunching tackle, successful spread of play and chance to score raises the pressure that I will anxiously sway back and forth in a constant battle to quash. That explosion of joy if we do score are the moments I watch this sport for, but not just because of the obvious release in tension.

So much is experienced during those few seconds after the ball hits the net; the initial outburst of happiness, the thought of seeing the team lift the trophy aloft, the sudden need to focus again. If you’re lucky enough to be experiencing the final with United-supporting friends and family, take a look around if we grab a goal. You’ll witness the purest, most unfiltered outpouring of joy that makes cup finals so unique.

Of course, there are two potential outcomes today. A win would etch the progress made under Ten Hag into the history books. Stamp the positivity as ‘official’. It would also rejuvenate a winning culture in major finals after we were defeated by Villarreal in the 2020/21 Europa League and Chelsea in the 2017/18 FA Cup. It’s important to get used to winning these matches for prolonged eras of success to take shape, so Ten Hag getting our foot over the line at the first chance will be incredibly poignant for fans.

But I don't believe all is lost if we are beaten. A formidable Newcastle side will fancy their chances of securing the club's first trophy since the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, a Europa League predecessor, in 1969.

Eddie Howe has done a tremendous job at a time of heightened expectation following a change of ownership and increased investment, but like us under Ten Hag, he probably didn’t quite expect to be in a final so soon.

The Magpies have lost just one of their last eight matches and are avidly competing for a Champions League spot next season. Victory at Wembley will mark a new chapter of their storied history and a snapshot in time that we may look back on as the moment they became consistent trophy hunters in years to come.

I am extremely positive about where the Reds are right now and wary of wider reaction no matter the scoreline against Howe’s men. There will be cries of needing to see competitions over the line if we lose, and wild overexpectations for the immediate future if we win, but these discussions shouldn’t be dictated by a one-off game. 

Ten Hag's men have a schedule like nobody else in Europe because of our improvement this season and it’s thrilling to have two games with Barcelona, a cup final and a trip to rivals Liverpool in the space of 17 days. To be in the conversation across four competitions at this stage of the campaign speaks loudly. 

Win or lose, Ten Hag’s project has embedded itself within the hearts of supporters so quickly that it’s impossible not to feel proud of what we’re doing and excited for what we may achieve in the future.

The opinions expressed in this article are personal to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Manchester United Football Club.