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Agence France-Presse

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho lauded his players’ “beautiful football” after they overwhelmed West Ham United 4-1 to set up a League Cup semi-final date with Hull City.
United are toiling in the Premier League, where a run of four consecutive home draws has contributed to their worst start to a top-flight campaign since 1989.
But they produced some irresistible football against West Ham at Old Trafford on Wednesday, prevailing through a brace apiece from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Anthony Martial.
“I’m pleased with the goals because the performance is something that we are used to,” Mourinho told Sky Sports, before ducking his post-game press conference.
“We are playing very, very well at home and today was more of the same.
“After that goal (West Ham’s equaliser), we had 10 minutes where we felt it deeply and the players on the pitch could not hide that because West Ham’s first shot, they equalised.
“But in the second half the team got again the confidence to play and to win comfortably and play beautiful attacking football, which is something that the fans like. But we need results.”
Mourinho hit with second one-match ban in Premier League
Mourinho was not present in the dug-out, having earlier been given a one-game touchline ban for angrily booting a water bottle during United’s 1-1 draw with West Ham in the league on Sunday.
He could not be seen in the directors’ box and when asked where he had watched the game, he said it was a “secret”.
He had seen his side concede inside two minutes on Sunday, but here it was United who struck first as Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s deft back-heel released Ibrahimovic to beat West Ham goalkeeper Adrian.
Ashley Fletcher, who left United for West Ham in July, equalised in the 35th minute after David de Gea allowed Dimitri Payet’s shot to bounce away from him.
But Martial scored twice, confidently tucking away right-wing passes from Mkhitaryan and then Antonio Valencia, before Ander Herrera teed up Ibrahimovic for United’s fourth goal in stoppage time.
Herrera was freed by Bastian Schweinsteiger, who received a warm ovation from the Old Trafford faithful as he came on to make his first appearance since last season.
FA like careless schoolchildren for letting drunken Rooney out of their sight, blasts Mourinho
Mourinho has softened his stance regarding the former Germany captain, who he had previously frozen out, and also saw Mkhitaryan produce another assured display on just his third United start.
Mkhitaryan shone in United’s recent 4-0 win over Feyenoord in the Europa League, but Mourinho was more pleased to see the former Borussia Dortmund star impress against domestic opposition.
“I’m so happy because today was against a Premier League team with Premier League qualities, with Premier League characteristics,” Mourinho said.
“That showed clearly his evolution because against Feyenoord we could think, ‘OK, it is a different profile of football.’
“But today was against a proper and typical Premier League team and Micky could perform this way. So I’m really happy.
Is Jose Mourinho starting to feel the strain? Now he’s picking fights with players
“We know the reason why we bought him and we were waiting for his adaptation and it looks like it’s coming.”
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic professed himself “very disappointed” and said his team had paid the price for conceding early goals in both halves.
“You can’t have a slow start anywhere, especially not here,” said the Croatian.
“Because they’re good anyway, but especially when they’re 1-0 up and can play on the counter-attack.
“At half-time we said we can’t allow them to do it again, but it was exactly the same at the start of the second half.”
Bilc lost wingbacks Aaron Cresswell and Michail Antonio to injury and said both players would be assessed on Thursday.
“(Cresswell) told me when he was coming off that he felt his groin was tight. He didn’t pull anything, so hopefully it’s not a major injury,” said Bilic, whose side host Arsenal this weekend.
“A couple of days’ rest and I hope he’ll be ready for Saturday. With Antonio we still don’t know.”


Absent Jose Mourinho buoyed by ‘beautiful’ Manchester United after 4-1 League Cup defeat of West Ham

Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates after scoring Manchester United’s fourth goal in the 4-1 EFL Cup win over West Ham at Old Trafford. Photo: Reuters

Manchester United's Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic crosses the ball during the EFL (English Football League) Cup quarter-final football match between Manchester United and West Ham United at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on November 30, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Oli SCARFF / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. /

Britain Football Soccer - Manchester United v West Ham United - EFL Cup Quarter Final - Old Trafford - 30/11/16 Blood on the face of Manchester United's Wayne Rooney after sustaining a injury as referee Mike Jones gestures Reuters / Phil Noble Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Britain Football Soccer - Manchester United v West Ham United - EFL Cup Quarter Final - Old Trafford - 30/11/16 Manchester United assistant manager Rui Faria and West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic Action Images via Reuters / Jason Cairnduff Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

Manchester United's Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates after scoring his sides 4th goal and his second of the game during the English League Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Manchester United and West Ham United at Old Trafford in Manchester, England Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016. Man. United won the match 4-1.(AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Ben Woodburn becomes Liverpool’s youngest ever goalscorer as they reach League Cup semis

Liverpool's Ben Woodburn celebrates scoring his side's second goal of the game. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

epa05652650 Liverpool’s Divock Origi (CL) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring the opening goal during the EFL Cup quarter final soccer match between Liverpool and Leeds United held at Anfield, Liverpool, Britain, 29 November 2016. EPA/PETER POWELL

Britain Football Soccer - Liverpool v Leeds United - EFL Cup Quarter Final - Anfield - 29/11/16 Liverpool's Ben Woodburn and manager Juergen Klopp celebrate after the game Reuters / Phil Noble Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

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Football

Red Devils manager lauds his players’ ‘beautiful football’ after they overwhelm Hammers 4-1 to set up an EFL Cup semi-final date with Hull
