Sorry, Jose, League Cup win only makes you a poor man’s LVG

ON the face of it, Jose Mourinho was paying his respects to the League Cup this week.

Fielding a full-strength line-up, he at least took the competition seriously.

Elsewhere, it was a different story, although the ends justified the means in many cases.

Liverpool’s Ben Woodburn wrote his name into history at Anfield, leaving observers throughout the country wondering if they owned clothes older than the teenager.

Fledglings

Arsene Wenger changed all bar one at the Emirates and, as per usual, might as well have been banging his head against a bar as Arsenal came unstuck.

Ashley Fletcher managed to do for West Ham what he he failed to do for Manchester United – and found the net at Old Trafford.

While Southampton continue to confound the world of football with t heir never- ending f actory of fledglings.

But the Portuguese took no such luxury. the first pot he lifted after arriving at Chelsea. His team selections confirmed the Blues would hit every competition head on. And it looked as though he was following suit in Salford.

Contrast this with what happens in north London where We n g e r leaves himself open to criticism by swapping so many of his regulars.

Arsenal’s boss routinely brings in a clutch of hopefuls – like throwing ducklings into the water to see if they sink or swim.

In 2014, Wenger’s nine-year wait for silverware ended when the Gunners bounced back after defeating Hull City in the FA Cup final. It was that triumph which kept him in a job.

How much easier it would have been for him to have cut that wait short – allowing pressure upon him to escape – by taking Mourinho’s approach and buying goodwill in the League Cup. True, on occasion, Wenger did. Such as the final five years ago when Birmingham City enjoyed their day in the sun, somehow defeating a full- strength Gunners’ side. But so often opportunities to leave a mark have been missed.

However, as far as Mourinho is concerned, it is pertinent to ask if he was ever going to leave anything to chance against the Hammers.

After all, just six months have passed since Louis van Gaal thumped the FA Cup on the desk in his victorious, self- SURPRISED FIFIFIFAFFIFA havenopenedhavenhaven’ttopenedpopenedhaven’t openedp an inquiry into why whyy Paris Cavani Saint-Germain’s Edinson week afterr whipped off his top last reveal a againstscoringscoringscoring against Angersngers to victims. tribute to the Chapecoense to blame the Afterfter all, if you are going poppies at an FWelshWlsh FWelshWelshFAFF for fans wearing are you goingg international fixture, what disre disregardrd to dbdo about suchh a bl blatant sort o of of the laws? Obviously,y, that b bee d decency and dh humanityi must stamped out. Well? congratulatory Press conference after beating Everton. It was a message to the throng who had predicted – correctly – that the Dutchman would be out on his ear after failing to secure Champions League qualification. Still, he made his point. Manchester United won a trophy and he had given the faithful something to cheer – although it wasn’t sufficient to save him from the chop. So, what must have been going through Mourinho’s mind when he sat down to ponder his selection for a second time this week against the Hammers? In the background were suggestions that the club’s hierarchy were not best pleased at seeing the manager boot a water bottle down the touchline during the first encounter in what is becoming another can’t-win brush with authority. Looking at the bigger picture, progression in the Europa League should be forthcoming – but it is by no means a gimme. The FA Cup is a lottery – a difficult third- round draw could end this season’s chances.

Let’s face it, this Manchester United team is capable of losing anywhere.

And, as for the title race, well, it’s not looking good. You can bet now that Mourinho would settle for fourth.

So, he must have looked at this tie and felt he couldn’t take any chances.

That the League Cup could be his best shot at success.

He had no choice, but to play the big-hitters. After all, otherwise he’s spent £160million. And for what? To fail to live up to the benchmark set by Van Gaal?

That’s not why Manchester United employed Jose Mourinho – and everybody knows it. THE attitude of the media towards Lewis Hamilton is generally lukewarm – where it should be red hot.

Those on the circuit feel no particular warmth for him. That’s one thing.

But when Sir Jackie Stewart describes you as “a little ballerina”, the issues clearly run deeper than a

Big-hitters

few interviewers being brassed off that they didn’t get sufficient airtime or the ace driver’s help.

Mr Hamilton (left) would be advised that, while there’s an art to winning, there’s also an art to losing.

And sometimes you must look in that full-length mirror, tuck in your tutu and play the game as best you can.