JUAN MATA finally gave Jose Mourinho some home comfort.
The Manchester United midfielder fired in a second-half winner to book his side’s place in the EFL Cup quarter-finals and dump holders and rivals Manchester City out.
It wasn’t scintillating stuff at Old Trafford or a derby to be remembered.
However, it was a timely reprieve for Mourinho, with pressure mounting after an inconsistent start to life at his new club, while City go six games without a win – their worst run in eight years.
Old Trafford chief Mourinho has not been enjoying living in a Manchester hotel, apparently.
He called it a “disaster” but at least there was no disaster on the pitch last night.
If his side had lost, it would have been a real crisis for Mourinho after being thumped 4-0 by his former club Chelsea on Sunday.
Not only would it have been another defeat to Pep Guardiola and City, but it would have come against their rivals’ second-string side.
City’s star men Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling were only subs, while David Silva was not included in the squad among nine changes from their draw with Southampton last weekend.
Guardiola said he would rotate his squad and was true to his word, even if he was in danger of going six games without a win, his worst run as a manager.
Mourinho could not take such a gamble, he needed a win and he played his strongest side available.
The only surprise was the continued absence of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who is fit, unlike Wayne Rooney and Eric Bailly, who were out with injuries.
Mkhitaryan could not have rescued a shocking first half last night even if he rediscovered his form from last season with Borussia Dortmund.
It was tough to watch as United struggled to unlock City despite Vincent Kompany looking shaky at the back. The Belgium defender would not make it out after the break.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic had one chance for the hosts, but it was defl ected wide and Sky pundit
Jamie Carragher was not wrong when he labelled it as possibly the Swede star’s worst 45 minutes of his whole career.
Kelechi Iheanacho, who headed wide in the first minute, had City’s best opportunity when some dodgy defending allowed him in down the left but Marcos Rojo recovered to block.
Ibrahimovic improved after the break, setting up Paul Pogba whose strike was tipped onto the post by City stand-in stopper Willy Caballero – some work for a keeper at last.
Then Ibrahimovic set up Mata’s winner in the 54th minute as he capitalised on defender Nicolas Otamendi misjudging a header before sliding the ball into the area.
There was a question that Ander Herrera fouled Fernando and stopped him from blocking the cross, but Mata pounced to find the bottom corner as referee Mike Dean waved away the protests.
It was not brilliant and against City's reserves but Mourinho will take it as he got his fourth win over Guardiola in 18 meetings after United lost the Premier League meeting last month.
Mourinho will hope United get their league form back on track against Burnley on Saturday as pressure shifted towards his opposite number.
The City boss’ gamble did not pay off and his second string looked toothless, failing to register a shot on target.
Not even bringing on Sterling and Aguero could change that. It was the first time City had failed to test a goalkeeper since April 2012.
Add that to their worst run in eight years as well as Guardiola’s worst run as a manager and an away trip to West Brom on Saturday suddenly looks a much bigger game.
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