Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Bilic sympathy for Mourinho
JOSE Mourinho is set to return to the Old Trafford dugout as Manchester United look to reinvigorate their season by reaching the EFL Cup semi-finals tonight.
The United boss was sent to t he stands during a frustrating draw with West Ham on Sunday and is now facing a second touchline ban in the space of a month.
But, with Mourinho having until tomorrow to respond to a Football Association charge of improper conduct, he will be free to take his place in the technical area for a second home clash with the Hammers in four days.
His challenge will be to oversee a much-needed win after t he result at t he weekend condemned United to their worst league start since 1989-90, with just 20 points from 13 games.
Standing opposite him tonight will be Hammers manager Slaven Bilic, who feels the Portuguese may have been harshly treated by referee Jon Moss on Sunday.
Mourinho was dismissed after reacting angrily and kicking a water bottle after midfielder Paul Pogba was booked for diving following a challenge by Mark Noble.
Bilic said: “Why I have sympathy with him is that situation with Pogba looked from our angle, and he was close to me, that it didn’t look like a dive.
“It was obvious and it was a great decision from the referee, but from our point it did not look like a dive. The problem is he hit that bottle like . . . it was a great volley to be fair.
“He should have miskicked it! He hit it too good!”