It was a bittersweet result for Man United tonight as they managed to beat Hull City 3-2 on aggregate despite losing 2-1 at the KCOM Stadium in the second league of the EFL Cup semi-final. The result means that the Red Devils now progress to the final against Southampton on 26th February (after Shane Long's heroics at Anfield last night helped send the Saints through to the Wembley final).
United had the intensity of a team who knew they would have to suffer a major catastrophe in order to lose on aggregate and after Tom Huddlestone bagged a penalty for the home side Paul Pogba's poked goal pretty much ensured that was the case (despite Oumar Niasse's late goal).
United's progression to a cup final didn't stop Jose Mourinho giving a really weird and abrupt post-match interview to Sky Sports. Mourinho is hard to predict at the best of times but seemed to have his touchline bans from before the Christmas break in mind (perhaps he's making some kind of a point that he is treated worse than old pal Arsene Wenger, as the Arsenal boss awaits punishment for shoving fourth official Anthony Taylor during Arsenal's home game against Burnley at the weekend).
A perfectionist, no doubt unhappy with how his side played despite the loss, Mourinho was fairly short with the interviewer.
Q: Jose, congratulations, you're in the final. What are your thoughts?
JM: I just want to say congratulations to my players because it was a difficult road to be in the final. And we are in the final. I don't want to say anything else because it is enough.
I'm calm, I behaved on the bench, not sent off, no punishments, so no more words.
Jose Mourinho Hull interview
What is it with moody, wacky managers this year? There's something in the air.
