Mourinho handed another 1-match ban by English FA

Jose Mourinho revealed that a half-time pep talk set Manchester United on their way to the EFL Cup semi-finals as they roared to a 4-1 triumph over West Ham at Old Trafford.

In the league match Zlatan Ibrahimovic cancelled out Diafra Sakho’s early goal for the visitors, but the Red Devils could not find a way past an inspired Darren Randolph as the goalkeeper eased the pressure on under-fire Slaven Bilic.

Although West Ham were back on level terms at the break, the 65 per cent of possession and eights shots to two were evidence of the control Manchester United had enjoyed and when the second spell started in similar fashion it took less than three minutes for the hosts to restore their advantage.

“We’re playing very, very well at home and today was more of the same”.

“I told them forget the goal”. And we did. They totally deserved it then after that. So I’m really happy.

It will be the second touchline ban this season for Mourinho, who was suspended for one match for using abusive or insulting words toward a referee at halftime of a game against Burnley at Old Trafford. I was in contact with the bench.

“But this competition is a chance for us to win the first silverware of the season, so we will give our all”.

“Of course, it’s always a pleasure to win games because you’re recovering faster, you’re recovering better, you have more fun in the dressing room so it makes you keep the good atmosphere in the dressing room which is what we’re trying to do”.

Captain Wayne Rooney was also impressive but was ultimately frustrated in his quest to score the one goal needed to equal Sir Bobby Charlton’s United record of 249.

The Liverpudlian may not be in Mourinho’s thinking but Henrikh Mkhitaryan nearly certainly will be after the Armenian playmaker once again caught the eye with two assists. “But there are a lot of positives from individual and team performances and, for the rest of the season, I think we will be all right”. “It looks like it’s coming”.

West Ham made Mourinho’s side pay for their profligacy when former United youngster Ashley Fletcher pounced on a mistake from David De Gea to prod in the leveller, opening his account for the club.

“It would be fair to say that the start of my life in Manchester was not flawless but there have been many other times when I’ve had setbacks, and I have never given up”.

“It should be crucial by the way, before you put him in from the start”.

In the other quarterfinal match on Wednesday, Southampton beat a largely second-string Arsenal team 2-0 thanks to first-half goals by Jordy Clasie and Ryan Bertrand at Emirates Stadium.