Newcastle United began strategising for the Carabao Cup final before discovering their opponents for the Wembley spectacle this afternoon. Manager Eddie Howe and his team scrutinised their approach from the 2023 final-a 2-0 loss to Manchester United-and retained the successful elements while discarding others.

The Magpies' previous stay at the Hilton Hotel at Wembley was marred by fan encounters, leading to a tense build-up to the 4.30pm kick-off. Changes in accommodation, meal schedules, travel timings, and training routines are being considered by Howe and his team.

Performance director James Bunce will work closely with Howe to manage the training duration of certain players due to mounting injuries. During their last final, the squad had to contend with the intrusive presence of Amazon Prime Video cameras, which added to the pressure.

Defender Dan Burn even recited Theodore Roosevelt's 'It is not the critic who counts' poem, heightening the tension. This time around, players will receive more support in securing tickets for their families, after many faced uncertainty ahead of the last Carabao Cup final.

Assistant manager Jason Tindall emphasised the need for Newcastle to treat the final "like a Premier League game".

Tindall told the Chronicle: "Two years ago when we got to the final there was a lot of talk, it was the first time we'd got there in a number of years. It was a new experience for many of the players, staff and fans.

"Maybe the occasion got to us. The lack of experience and that's what I say we have to learn from those experiences and approach it like we do any other Premier League and try to get the job done.

Tindall and Newcastle staff have clashed with Liverpool before in the technical areas with the 2022 visit to Anfield resulting in an FA probe in which performance coach Dan Hodges was fined by the FA for booting a bottle at Liverpool's coaching bench.

Tindall is full of respect for Arne Slot's staff, though, and while rivalries have not gone away, tensions have simmered between the two benches for now.

Tindall said: "They are a top, top team with exceptional players and we have to go to Wembley and we have to learn from our experiences last time. It is another game for us, we have to go out there and deliver the level of performance we did in the two semi-finals.

"And hopefully, we can go there this time and go one better."

Newcastle had an excellent warm-up for the final by seeing off Arsenal over two legs.

"Arsenal are a top, top team as well, and they are there or there about, fighting for all competitions, it was important that we stuck to a plan," he reflected.

"We had that plan in terms of how we wanted to play and it was about the players going out there and executing what was asked of them. The players have to take full credit for the way they went out and performed, we went after them from minute one and made it uncomfortable for them.

"We defended our box really well, and we knew were a threat with Alex Isak and Jacob Murphy with their transitional pace, when those moments come it is about taking your chances."

He acknowledged that a similar level of performance, if not more, will be required against Slot's side at Wembley, and dealing with the scrutiny of their own strategies will also pose a challenge for Newcastle. Speaking on Newcastle's approach, Tindall said: "You have to do your analysis and how the opposition line up, then come up with a plan that executes what we try to deliver.

We have done well so far this season with our set-plays. A lot of people have to take credit for that and so have the players.

You give them the detail but they are the ones that go out and execute it. We know that Arsenal are one of the best for set-plays, one of the best around but over two legs we have dealt with their threats, full credit to the players."

Now, Tindall and Howe are focused on finding the perfect balance between excitement and preparation. Newcastle staff are acutely aware of the potential to rewrite history as they head into the game. Tindall remarked: "We have to enjoy it. It is a special occasion, a cup final that doesn't happen very often.

"We have to enjoy it and then our focus starts on the next day. In both cup competitions we want to go far."