“The final was amazing” Italian footballer Sandro Tonali tells his team, Newcastle United must not do in 2025-26

This season, Newcastle United became the inaugural Premier League club to achieve European qualification.
Newcastle secured European football for the 2025-26 campaign by winning the Carabao Cup nearly two months ago.

A position in the Conference League qualification round is awarded to the victors of the Carabao Cup.

However, Newcastle did not perceive it as a recompense in the traditional sense; rather, they perceived it as a potential consolation, as they promptly raised their aspirations. Newcastle’s message following their 70-year trophy hiatus was to reinforce it by qualifying for the Champions League rather than the Conference League or Europa League.

The Magpies have been performing well thus far, as they are currently third in the Premier League table with two games remaining. They require only one additional victory to guarantee their qualification for the Champions League.

Newcastle’s 2-0 victory over Chelsea at St James’ Park on Sunday propelled them three points closer to the Champions League qualifying spots, with a significantly higher goal difference than Aston Villa in sixth. Arsenal is the opponent for the Magpies at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, and they will host Everton at St James’ Park on the final day of the season.

Newcastle United’s objectives are articulated by Sandro Tonali.
Sandro Tonali has been instrumental in Newcastle’s Champions League and cup victories this season, netting the opening goal in the team’s most recent victory over Chelsea.

In 2023, the Italian joined Newcastle after helping AC Milan reach the Champions League semi-final. Tonali played for Newcastle in the Champions League before the team was expelled from Europe and failed to qualify for any European competition last season. Consequently, he was issued a 10-month betting suspension.

Tonali and his colleagues are undeterred in their pursuit of a top-five finish, dismissing the Conference League position they acquired by winning the Carabao Cup, with only two games remaining.

“We must consider each game in isolation,” Tonali advised the team. “And not in the most recent game or the most recent two games.” However, it is imperative that we participate in each event.

“We are required to consider only one game per week.” We aspire to participate in the Champions League at full capacity during the forthcoming season.

“We have already qualified for the Conference League, and we have won the Carabao Cup. However, we are unable to participate in the Conference League.”

“Because these fans are deserving of the Champions League.” Every member on this team is deserving of the Champions League. The Champions League is a prize that Newcastle’s personnel and every individual in the city deserve.

Sandro Tonali contemplates Newcastle United’s Carabao Cup triumph.
The 2024-25 campaign has already been established as Newcastle’s most successful campaign of the modern era, as it has successfully ended a 70-year domestic trophy drought. Tonali returned to Newcastle to participate in the Carabao Cup celebration parade, which was estimated to attract approximately 300,000 attendees across the bus parade and Town Moor event, following the Wembley Stadium celebrations and an international hiatus.

Tonali described the cup victory as “crazy.” “Crazy because we played every game in the Carabao Cup to win this trophy.” We played with the most talented team in order to secure victory in each subsequent game following Brentford.

“The conclusion was extraordinary.” The warm-up was exceptional. The supporters were magnificent, and I was transported to a dream state, as it is a significant amount of time for these individuals after 70 years.