José Mourinho always did take the League Cup – typically the lowest priority for managers at elite clubs – more seriously than most of his peers. Yet whether he regards Manchester United’s flourishes of finery as West Ham were swatted aside as a genuine turning point remains tantalisingly difficult to assess. Of course, he watched the game from his secret hiding place, so cameras were not privy to the expressions that might have given some clues as to whether he is convinced his plans for a more balanced, more effective team are belatedly coming together.
Encouraging though it was to see some of the stranger conundrums of the season beginning to stylishly resolve themselves – Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Anthony Martial in particular – the key for Mourinho is to translate some of the positive vibes United are capable of summoning from cup games into the league.
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