By Martin Graham
Newcastle United stood in the Etihad Stadium tunnel, ready to kick off, while Manchester City was nowhere to be seen.
A few minutes from kick-off, the Carabao Cup holders looked raring to go, as Kieran Trippier he looked around in confusion, looking for the home team.
Pep Guardiola’s players eventually emerged, but their slow start had little impact on what followed. City tore Newcastle apart in the opening period of the semi-final second leg, building a huge 3-0 lead that left the visitors reeling.
The moment was awkward. Earlier in the day, chief executive David Hopkinson had reiterated his belief that Newcastle would challenge for top honors in 2030. On the pitch, however, the gap between ambition and reality was stark during a punishing first half.
Eddie Howe’s frustration was clear. The manager reacted decisively at the break, making three substitutions after what he later admitted was an angry dressing room exchange.
Demonstration without reward
Newcastle showed more determination after the restart and managed to reduce the deficit when Anthony Elanga found the net after coming off the bench.
Even so, elimination was already inevitable. A 5-1 aggregate defeat confirmed their exit, despite a more competitive display in the second half.
The traveling support stood firmly behind their manager. Around 5,400 fans filled the home end with chants of support for Howe, aware of his role in delivering the club’s first domestic trophy in 70 years, achieved in the same competition.
However, the season as a whole has been demanding, and there is little sign that the pressure will ease in the coming weeks.
A season marked by change
Six months into the campaign, Newcastle are still searching for consistency. This assessment may seem harsh on the surface.
They have reached a third EFL Cup semi-final in four seasons and are well placed to overcome Qarabag and into the last 16 of the Champions League. An FA Cup run is also possible, although there is a tough fourth-round meeting with Aston Villa.
The league form, however, tells a different story. In 11th place in the Premier League, Howe’s side have struggled away from home, registering just two wins on their travels.
Ambitions of back-to-back Champions League qualification have faded. Only 11 points have been taken from games against teams above them, while 16 points have slipped away from winning positions.
Howe accepted the description of the transition, citing summer departures, including top scorer Alexander Isak, and the arrival of new faces as factors behind the patchy performances. He emphasized that change does not have to be negative, but recognized the continuous search for balance and rhythm.
New faces and unanswered questions
There have been encouraging flashes. Newcastle overwhelmed Chelsea before the break, competed bravely for an hour against Paris St-Germain and started brightly at Anfield.
Maintaining this level has proved difficult. A packed roster has limited training camp time, forcing the coaching staff to rely heavily on video analysis and follow-up sessions.
The calendar has also taken a physical toll. Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Tino Livramento and Fabian Schar are currently unavailable, while Anthony Gordon left on Wednesday evening with a hamstring problem.
The integration of summer hires has been uneven. Apart from defender Malick Thiaw, several arrivals are still adjusting after joining late in a chaotic transfer window conducted without a sporting director.
Despite the heavy spending on attacking options, a reliable front-line formula has yet to emerge. Elanga impressed from the bench for Manchester, but Nick Woltemade was withdrawn at the break and Yoane Wissa missed several chances in both legs.
As Newcastle approach a decisive stretch of the season, uncertainty continues. Howe insists they are still competing on multiple fronts, but admits only wins will restore momentum and belief.
