Mourinho adds doubts over League Cup relevance

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has said he could see the argument for claiming the English game would be better off without the League Cup after his team beat Burton at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.

Teams competing in the Carabao Cup third round averaged almost eight changes a side as questions continue over the competition’s relevance.

At Old Trafford, both sides made nine line-up changes from their respective league games at the weekend, and Mourinho said: “If you ask me could English football survive or even be better without this competition? Maybe.

“Maybe we would be fresher for European competitions, for example.”

Two teams – Arsenal and Aston Villa – made 11 changes, although in the Gunners’ case they were still strong enough to beat Doncaster, who made the joint lowest number (two, along with Bristol Rovers).

Brighton, West Ham and Middlesbrough made ten switches apiece, but the latter two progressed to the last 16 with wins over Bolton and Villa respectively.