Limp end to a limp season for trophy hunter Mourinho

IT was typical Jose, making sure he gave himself fulsome praise while claiming the rest of the world does not.

“Maybe when I win one more trophy than 25, I have a little bit of credit,” he said, back in November.

One more trophy than 25 will have to wait. A little bit of credit will have to wait.

Never mind the second-placed Premier League finish and the decent points total, this Wembley loss was the full stop to an uninspiring season.

Manchester United had a couple of good opportunities to extend the final into extra-time but, in truth, this was a reverse that typified their campaign’s work.

For too long they were cautious and uncommitted to adventure, certainly in the first half.

In the second half, Mourinho, generally becalmed early, became more and more agitated.

We know what any trophy means to him, and he knew what this trophy would have meant to United’s season.

In a show of open-necked defiance, Mourinho had shunned the traditional managerial garb for Wembley.

Or maybe when you have been to as many finals as Jose, dressing up for the occasion loses a little appeal.

There was never likely to be anything casual about his preparation and approach, though.

But one of the issues Mourinho has grappled with – and will continue to grapple with – is finding a first-choice central-defensive pairing.

He again settled for Phil Jones and be one of the world’s most exciting young players – he probably is one of the world’s most exciting young players.

But he did not start successive Premier League games in the last six months of the season.

It was hardly surprising he looked shorn of confidence and decisiveness.

One second-half snapshot was the sum of his contribution until he missed a decent equalising chance and was duly hooked.

Rashford turns 21 this year but his game is not maturing in the way it should be.

It might not do under Mourinho.

Yet the irony is that he is the type of player that could alter the perception of Mourinho, perform with the sort of adventure his teams miss.

As Rashford was replaced, Mourinho offered a handshake that was not ignored but was hardly met with vigour.

It was almost symbolic. They might have finished only behind Manchester City, but it was a limp end to a limp season.

And the credit Jose is craving will have to wait.

Antoine Griezmann set to leave for Barcelona this summer and Fernando Torres also on his way out.Leicester do not want to lose their England hitman, and talks have started on a new deal, with two years to run on his current one.Vardy, 31, is rated at £16million, but Atletico would have to offer at least £20m to even tempt the Foxes into doing business.Leicester paid £1m to non-League Fleetwood in 2012 to sign Vardy, and he completed his incredible rise to the top when he fired them to the Premier League title in 2015-16.Arsenal tried to sign him that same summer, but Vardy decided to stay put.Simeone is now planning to test his resolve again. BIG TARGET: Vrsaljko GRIPPING STUFF: Mourinho and Conte