Mourinho basks in United's 'beautiful' response

Jose Mourinho lauded Manchester United's "beautiful football" after it overwhelmed West Ham 4-1 on Wednesday to set up a League Cup semifinal date with Hull City.

United is toiling in the Premier League, where a run of four consecutive home draws has contributed to its worst start to a top-flight campaign since 1989.

But it responded with some irresistible soccer against the Hammers at Old Trafford, advancing 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 media conference.

"We are playing very, very well at home and today was more of the same.

"After that goal (West Ham's equalizer), we had 10 minutes where we felt it deeply and the players on the pitch could not hide that because on West Ham's first shot, they equalized.

"But in the second half the team again got 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 was not present in the dugout, having been given a one-game touchline ban for angrily booting a water bottle during United's 1-1 draw with West Ham in league play last Sunday.

He could not be seen in the directors' box and when asked where he had watched the game, the United boss said it was "a secret".

He had seen his side concede inside two minutes on Sunday, but here it was United which struck first as Henrikh Mkhitaryan's deft back-heel released Ibrahimovic to beat Hammers goalkeeper Adrian.

Ashley Fletcher, who left United for West Ham in July, equalized 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 in stoppage time.

Bilic counts cost

Mourinho has softened his stance regarding the previously frozen out Bastian Schweinsteiger, who came off the bench for his first United game since March, and Mkhitaryan, who produced another assured display in just his third start.

Mkhitaryan shone in the 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 and 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.

"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 in each half.

"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 halftime we said we can't allow them to do it again, but it was exactly the same at the start of the second half."

To compound his woes, Bilic lost fullbacks Aaron Cresswell and Michail Antonio to injury.

Old foes on Wembley collision course

Bitter rivals Manchester United and Liverpool avoided each other in the draw for the League Cup semifinals.

United was paired with Premier League struggler Hull after defeating West Ham 4-1.

Hull, promoted to the top flight via the Championship playoff final at Wembley last term, saw off Championship leader Newcastle on penalties on Tuesday.

"If the teams arrive here, it is because they put a lot on the competition," said United boss Jose Mourinho.

"I am sure that Hull City has an amazing memory from Wembley from last season. I'm sure that they are going to try everything to be there again."

Liverpool, which triumphed 2-0 over Leeds on Tuesday, will face Southampton, which won 2-0 at Arsenal on Wednesday.

The two-legged last-four ties will be played in January. The final takes place at Wembley Stadium on Feb 26.

Agence Francep-Resse