Jose Mourinho praised his players’ “attitude” after cup specialist Jesse Lingard got them back to winning ways.
The Manchester United boss had blasted his players after their first defeat of the season at Huddersfield on Saturday, and Mirror Sport exclusively revealed tensions at training the next day.
But Mourinho got the reaction he was seeking — Jesse Lingard’s first brace for the club gave the League Cup holders a comfortable 2-0 win at Swansea in Mourinho’s 400th game in English football.
“We were in the game from the first minutes, pressing and forcing things, the attitude was good,” said the United manager. “There were no injuries either, so it is a good day.”
Mourinho’s first game in English football was in August 2004 — against Manchester United.
“Of course I still get the same thrill from it, but 2004 was a long time ago,” he said. “I am more mature and have a different way to react to things.”
Mourinho has bigger targets this season than retaining the League Cup.
But after his side’s quick start to the season had stalled with that Anfield bore draw and then the defeat at Huddersfield, he demanded a result and a performance here before facing Spurs, Benfica and then Chelsea in their next three games.
And his mix-and-match side secured the desired win in comfortable style thanks to Lingard, who scored the first double of his career with goals in each half.
The England star slotted home Marcus Rashford’s neat flick after 21 minutes following Ander Herrera’s pass – and then headed in a Matteo Darmian cross just before the hour mark to finish off an insipid Swansea side.
Lingard scored the spectacular winner in the 2016 FA Cup final and netted his only previous goal this season in the previous round of this competition against Burton.
“I thought we were in control,” he said.
“We had to put things right today. We have learned from the weekend and we want to move on. It was my first header in a long time, but I am just happy however they go in.”
Mourinho kept only four players from the Huddersfield horrow show with Victor Lindelof, at fault for the Terriers' second goal, and Herrera among those sent out for a double shift.
The Basque had infuriated his Portuguese coach with post-match comments at the John Smith’s Stadium over United’s “lack of passion” – and he got an early ear-bashing from Mourinho from the touchline.
But the manager gave Herrera a warm handshake when he was subbed off in the second period to confirm a job well done.
With his side two up, Mourinho chose to throw on Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic for gentle run-outs in a disappointingly one-sided last-16 tie.
Swansea boss Paul Clement had made eight changes from the home Premier League defeat to Leicester, with Bayern Munich loanee Renato Sanches missing because of a thigh injury.
Not until the late introduction of Tammy Abraham did this competition's 2013 winners force Sergio Romero into his first save — after 74 minutes, when he tipped over the on-loan Chelsea starlet's shot.
The Argentinean keeper made another fine stop from another sub, Leroy Fer, in stoppage time.
Swansea can now concentrate on their battle against the drop, until the FA Cup in January.
“They deserved the victory,” admitted Clement. “They had that extra bit of quality. Once they got the second goal, they were in total control.
“We just have to believe that good results and good performances are just around the corner. The performance was slightly better today.
“We have got to show perseverance, determination to keep going through this difficult time we are having.”