KEEP CALM and carry on Kieran Trippier did allow himself a brief walk on the wild side after ending Newcastle’s trophy drought.
And the experienced defender, 34, won’t let anyone take their eye off the ball in their chase for Champions League football following their Wembley heroics.
He said: “I feel like myself, the leadership group will keep everybody level-headed.
“We’ll enjoy the occasion now because it’s an international break but the most important thing is we’ve got ten games left and we want to finish in the top four.”
Full-back Trippier rolled back the years with a brilliant performance to help Toon beat Liverpool in the Carabao Cup Final.
The ace was also part of the side that lost the 2023 League Cup Final to Manchester United.
Trippier also believes that Eddie Howe played a masterstroke by switching the team hotel from next to Wembley like their last visit to out in the sticks.
And he also added that they used the experience from that United pain to get over the line this time.
He said: “The first time was too emotional, should I say and I think it’s right to say for the players, the club.
“This time around we learned from the mistakes we made in terms of hotels, tickets … there were so many factors and it saps it out of you.
“We were more calm before this final, more relaxed. Everything was well organised. And that can play a big part in the result.
“Again, it’s emotional, it takes a lot out of you. Again, we’ve been in that situation before and we knew how to handle it.
“I’ve played in many finals in my career and when you stay so close to the stadium, the supporters are there and players who have never played in a final before … it’s emotional, it can take a lot out of you, a lot of energy.
“I just think the United one, it was too emotional, that’s the only way I can put it. But in this final, before it was more relaxed, it was more calm. That was the most important thing.”
He celebrated the Magpies’ first domestic piece of silverware for 70 years with his mum and two young children after they cheered him on from the stands.
Trippier and his kids headed to the zoo today before triumphant boss Howe takes his non-international players on a trip to Dubai.
On whether this success has unlocked something after decades of disappointment, Trippier said: “It’s a mystery. You don’t want to get too carried away. The club has come so far in a short period of time.
“As I’ve said many times, people will talk about the Premier League, the Champions League etc etc but it’s all about building.
“Enjoy tonight. The supporters deserve it. And everybody associated with Newcastle deserves it … what doesn’t get mentioned are the people at the training ground, the staff who put everything on. Kitchen ladies, everybody.
“It’s not just the players. It’s everybody associated with Newcastle. We’ll enjoy it. Go into the international break but we’ve got a big run-in ahead because we want to finish in the top four.”
Trippier was one Howe’s first signing back in January 2022 after the Saudi takeover.
He was made captain and helped them climb off the bottom of the table and then return to the Champions League.
Trying to put his journey at St James’ into words, he said: “Proud, emotional.
“It’s been a rollercoaster couple of years since the takeover happened and as I said when I first signed, it’s about building, taking your time, step by step and we’ve bounced back from the hurt of two years ago.”
Trippier also believes that Howe played a masterstroke by switching the team hotel from next to Wembley like their last visit to out in the sticks.
And he also added that they used the experience from that United pain to get over the line this time.
He added: “The first time was too emotional, should I say and I think it’s right to say for the players, the club.
“This time around we learned from the mistakes we made in terms of hotels, tickets … there were so many factors and it saps it out of you.
“We were more calm before this final, more relaxed. Everything was well organised. And that can play a big part in the result.
“Again, it’s emotional, it takes a lot out of you. Again, we’ve been in that situation before and we knew how to handle it.
“I’ve played in many finals in my career and when you stay so close to the stadium, the supporters are there and players who have never played in a final before … it’s emotional, it can take a lot out of you, a lot of energy.
“I just think the United one, it was too emotional, that’s the only way I can put it. But in this final, before it was more relaxed, it was more calm. That was the most important thing.”
