Mourinho going all-out for a win

JOSE MOURINHO will resist the temptation to make major changes tonight – in a game Manchester United cannot afford to lose. Mourinho faces his former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard, who brings his Derby side to Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup third round.

United fell eight points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool after Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to Wolves, further denting their hopes of a title challenge. Against that backdrop, Mourinho cannot afford another setback at home, and admitted he must pick a side capable of beating the Rams – sixth in the Championship. With a penalty shoot-out if the teams are level after 90 minutes, Mourinho suggested he will pick a strong team to win the game in normal time to avoid another setback in front of home fans.

He said: “You don’t even have the possibility of after a draw playing 30 more minutes.

“You go straight to a penalty shoot-out, which obviously is a 50/50 situation.

“So it’s a match of 90 minutes which we have to try and win and the choice of the players is based on that. We have to try and win.

Chance

“I think it’s good because no extra-time, no more extra minutes that we already have, especially for the teams that are playing European competitions and especially when it goes to the end of the competitions – extra-time is really, really difficult.

“But it’s a good advantage to the teams that are not favourites, because a draw takes the game immediately to a penalty shoot-out and that is a lottery.

“So there is a better chance for the teams not considered favourites, which brings some more beauty to the game and brings more possibility of giant-killings, because how many times do the big teams in 30 minutes of extra-time win the ties?”

Mourinho has won the League Cup a record four times, along with former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and Brian Clough, and admitted he relishes the do-or-die nature of knockout football.

“I like the cups and, of course, everybody knows the difference between the FA Cup and League Cup,” said Mourinho.

“But as a cup competition, I like the feeling of the knockout. You win, you are in the competition. You lose, you are out. I like that pressure and I think fans also like it.”