MUCH MOUR TO COME
Jose will lead his side to Wembley glory today and plenty of silverware after that too SAYS EX-MAN UNITED & SAINTS STAR MARK HUGHES
JOSE MOURINHO will come face to face with an old friend at Wembley today – 12 years after first being introduced to the League Cup. That was back in 2005 when Mourinho got his hands on the trophy, his first in English football, to trigger an avalanche of silverware at home and in Europe. The League Cup was his after Chelsea beat Liverpool 3-2 following extra-time in Cardiff and there was no looking back for the ex-Porto manager. This afternoon, Mourinho will lead Manchester United out in the EFL Cup Final against Southampton with Mark Hughes, a man who played for both clubs, predicting history is about to repeat itself. The Stoke City manager believes M our in ho–who lifted the Community Shield as United boss in August – will end the day with the fourth League Cup win of his impressive career. Hughes said: “It’s evenly matched but I would just say that United have got the edge. “It will be tight and it will be a good game – there’s some good talent on show – but I just sense that United, given the run they are on at the moment, will win. “They are very difficult to break down and overcome as United teams have always been. “They always find a way to get some kind of result. I just sense that given it’s Jose’s opportunity to get that first major trophy at United, the focus for them will be huge. “But seeing that Southampton have not won a trophy for 40-odd years, it’s a huge day for them as well.” The two teams involved today have a big place in Hughes’ heart after enjoyable spells at both during his glittering days on the pitch. He had two seasons at The Dell after leaving Chelsea in 1998 as he moved towards the end of his playing career. Previously he had won the 1992 League Cup with United when they got the better of Nottingham Forest 1-0 with Brian McClair scoring the only goal early on in a disappointing final for the Welshman.
He added: “I remember we didn't play particularly well and I didn't play particularly well.
“It wasn’t one of the most memorable finals but it was clearly one which we won and we were grateful for that.
“We had a good team then but my abiding memory is that it wasn't a great game really.
“And another memory that sticks in my mind from that day is that we wore that blue kit which looked like it had birds feet splattered all over it.
“But overall I had a great time at United. A lot of people still associate me with the club albeit it was a long, long time ago. I left in 1995 – 22 years ago - but they were a big part of my life.
“And apart from the spells I was away, I was there from the age of 14 to 31, a big chunk of my football career.
“I had a lot of great times there and
thankfully played in good teams with good players winning great things.”
Hughes moved to Southampton in 1998, being signed by Dave Jones for £650,000, and said: “Yes, I was a bargain! I came from Chelsea where I had three really good years.
“I just liked the idea of going there. I felt I still had a bit more football in me at that time.
“Fair to say, though, that I went there as a forward and didn’t play too many games to be honest. I ended up in a midfield role.”
It was in that unfamiliar territory that a fire started within Sparky.
Over the course of his first season on the south coast the Wrexham-born ace clocked up a record 14 yellow cards.
Hughes added: “I ended up kicking more people than I stopped.
“The cards were all from the same foul. When someone was going past me I just popped my leg out and they fell over it. The yellow cards just accumulated over the course of the season.
“I enjoyed it there and today they are a good template for teams to follow, the way they turn over their players.
“They have the benefit of selling a lot of players for a lot of money.”