Hull might have edged out Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United side in their recent EFL Cup semi-final, but it was the Red Devils that ultimately progressed to the final.
However, although United are now one step closer to winning their first trophy under Mourinho, their route to finale was less than impressive. What’s more, with Hull set to reappear like a bad dream on February 1 for United’s next Premier League clash, it could be another long night for the Old Trafford faithful.
Of course, if you’ve read or heard anything from Mr Mourinho following his side’s 2-1 defeat to Hull in the second leg of the EFL Cup semi-final, you’ll know that he has a slightly different take on reality. Yes, we know he’s been prone to self-absorbed, fantasy-filled rants in his time, but his latest comments suggest he may be losing touch with reality.
Has Mourinho Lost the Plot?
Speaking after the match, Mourinho insisted that he “only saw two goals” and “it was 1-1”. Now, for anyone with two eyes on the match, it was clearly a 2-1 for Hull. Not only that, but Hull actually had control of the game for large periods of play. Some tactical changes by Marco Silva, plus a goal from loan striker Oumar Niasse, meant Hull looked stronger than they have for much of the season.
In fact, it was some canny substitutions just after half-time that really produced some inspiring performances. Abel Hernandez didn’t get too much time to shine in the 20 minutes he was on the pitch, but his presence certainly gave Hull more attacking impetus. Similarly, Evandro Goebel was able to show some flashes of brilliance, especially with his deliveries into the box. Although Hull still has a lot of work to do if they’re going to pull themselves out the relegation zone, the fact Silva was able to change things up and get a result against United is encouraging.
Teams Can Drown Living in Denial
Now, back to Mourinho. Maybe it was the fact he’d had a few drinks to celebrate his birthday before the match or maybe he just couldn’t believe it was Hull that snapped a 17-game unbeaten streak, either way, his reaction was strange (even by his standards). While it’s fair to say his comments may have been manufactured for the media, denial is a slippery slope. If the man in charge of Man United’s fortunes isn’t willing to acknowledge his team weren’t good enough to beat Hull, then it could lead to issues in the future.
Failing to plug leaks or change tactics just because you “think” they’re good enough is a recipe for disaster. Of course, we all know Mourinho is an accomplished manager. However, if he’s unable to separate his personal pride from any sort of objective reason then United could easily find themselves in trouble. Indeed, when Hull comes to town on February 1 the players will certainly take some confidence from their recent 2-1 win.
Naturally, if United want to play the “past results” game, then there will only be one winner. Of the 11 meetings between the two clubs, United have won nine, drawn once and lost once. With that sort of record, the home side should be practically brimming with confidence. However, we all know that football can be fickle and if the likes of Paul Pogba, Juan Mata and Zlatan Ibrahimovic fall into Mourinho’s trap, things could easily turn sour on Wednesday.
United are Still the Favourites
OK, so what does all this mean? Well, in reality, it might not mean very much. If we look at the facts, United are clearly the better side and they’ve proved that numerous times this season. Subscribing to this philosophy should, therefore, lead us towards a United win. If that’s the case then we have to be prepared to take some fairly uninspiring odds from the top bookies. Sun Bets currently has a win for Mourinho’s men priced at 2/13, while 888sport has a slightly more attractive 2/11.
Of course, if you want slightly more bang for your buck as a United fan, 1-0 or 2-0 with William Hill can be had for 7/1 and 5/1 respectively. However, for our money, there’s a lot of value in backing Hull on this occasion. Does this mean we’re telling you Hull will definitely win? No, what we mean is that the current prices don’t seem to reflect the team’s actual chances of winning.
Don’t be Afraid to Take a Punt
For example, Sun Bets currently has Hull priced at 16/1 for the win. Even under normal circumstances, this is a huge price for a two-team match. So, when you factor in the recent result and a possible mental meltdown from Mourinho, this betting line starts to look even more attractive.
If you like to be a little more cautious, 11/2 (William Hill) on a draw still has a healthy amount of value to it. However, we’ll repeat it again: this doesn’t mean Hull will realistically start the match as favourites. Sports betting is all about finding situations where the odds don’t necessarily reflect reality.
In this situation, it’s clear Silva’s men will be buoyed by their recent success and up for the match in a way they otherwise might not have been. With this being the case, it could pay dividends to go against the grain and take a punt on the underdog when Hull travel to United on Wednesday.
