Mourinho rags Klopp as Man Utd reach final

MANCHESTER United manager Jose Mourinho took a sarcastic swipe at Liverpool counterpart Jurgen Klopp after his side booked their place in the League Cup final.

A day after Liverpool had been bundled out of the competition by Southampton, United progressed with a 3-2 aggregate win over Hull City, despite losing 2-1 in Thursday’s second leg.

Klopp said the wind had made conditions difficult in Liverpool’s 1-0 loss to Southampton on Wednesday and Mourinho made an acerbic reference to that remark when he was asked if United were the favourites for the trophy.

“I don’t think we are favourites . . . It doesn’t matter where we play, against who, we are never favourites. Normally the stadium is windy and it’s difficult.”

Mourinho also tried to claim his team’s unbeaten record remained intact despite their defeat at Hull, who prevailed on the night courtesy of Oumar Niasse’s 85th-minute goal.

It was United’s first loss in 18 matches but, having disagreed with the decision that led to Tom Huddlestone putting Hull ahead from the penalty spot, Mourinho claimed the outcome had been invalid.

“We didn’t lose. It was 1-1. I only saw two goals,” the United manager told his post-match press conference at a chilly KCOM Stadium.

“I saw [Paul] Pogba’s goal and their [second] goal was a fantastic goal. Great action, great cross and the guy in the far post coming. 1-1.”

Huddlestone put Hull in front in the 35th minute after Marcos Rojo was adjudged by referee Jon Moss to have tugged Harry Maguire’s shirt.

Mourinho refused to divulge his thoughts on the penalty but suggested United’s control of the tie had been unfairly taken away by Moss.

“I don’t want to speak about the penalty but I don’t want also to speak about the performance.

“Because to speak about the performance again, I have to say the game was in the pocket, the game was under control and something happened to open the game.”

Hull had shown greater enterprise up to that point and although Pogba levelled, stabbing home after Huddlestone had inadvertently toed the ball into his path, Niasse’s goal gave them a Pyrrhic victory.

The Senegalese forward converted David Meyler’s volleyed cross to score his first Hull goal since signing on loan from Everton and give the club a first victory over United since November 1974. — AFP