Mourinho denies favourites status after booking EFL Cup final spot

Jose Mourinho does not believe Manchester United should be considered the favourites for their EFL Cup final against Southampton at Wembley.

United booked a final berth on Thursday despite a 2-1 loss at Hull City ending the team’s 17-game unbeaten run, with Tom Huddlestone and Oumar Niasse on target either side of Paul Pogba’s equaliser.

Mourinho has won the competition three times but the Portuguese believes the final against Southampton on February 26 will be tricky for United.

“I don’t think we are favourites against nobody,” Mourinho told reporters at his post-match media conference.

“It doesn’t matter against who, we are never favourites. Normally the stadium is windy and it’s difficult.

“I am happy. I think 17 matches unbeaten is amazing. We didn’t lose. It was 1-1. I only saw two goals. I saw Pogba’s goal and their goal, a fantastic goal, great action, great cross.”

From Northampton to Southampton… our 2016/17 #EFLCup journey. #MUFC pic.twitter.com/ZnRdffDMHn

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 26, 2017

United had a string of second-half penalties turned down and Mourinho appeared to be upset with referee Jon Moss, who awarded Hull a spot-kick for their opening goal.

“The game was totally in our control, it was what we wanted the game to be, and something happened to open the game and then the game was open,” Mourinho said..

“But [Hull manager] Marco [Silva] is doing fantastic work and they were a very good team in both matches. We had more power, we were the best team and we could have scored more goals in the first match.

“I congratulate my players and I don’t want to analyse the performance so much.”