Jose Mourinho lays down challenge to Manchester United players

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has challenged his players to show they are "men" by recovering from the 4-0 humiliation at Chelsea when they face Manchester City in the EFL Cup on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports.

Sunday's result ended a six-match unbeaten run in all competitions as Mourinho and many of the United coaching staff endured a nightmare afternoon at the hands of their former employers.

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Pedro scored the opening goal for Antonio Conte's side after just 30 seconds and Gary Cahill, Eden Hazard and N'Golo Kante also hit the target as the Blues sealed a comprehensive victory at Stamford Bridge.

Wednesday's game will be the second time City boss Pep Guardiola and Mourinho have faced one another since taking charge of the two Manchester clubs and the latter will be hoping for a better result than when the sides met in the Premier League in September, when City claimed a 2-1 win.

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"I would prefer to play [next] in the Premier League. It's a bad feeling in the Premier League. With the combination of results, the gap to the top is six points," Mourinho said in an interview with MUTV.

"We have had a very difficult period of matches. We lost points this week and, even in the match when we played phenomenal against Stoke [a 1-1 draw], we lost points then. Now we need to win matches.

"I am not saying they are easy ones, but we have Burnley, we have Swansea, West Ham, Sunderland, Middlesbrough - matches that we need to win.

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"The top four, top five, they have to play between themselves like we did this week against Chelsea and Liverpool.

"They are going to lose points too, so we are in the run, but there is no way to hide.

"We are really, really sad, but again this is not for kids, this is for men and...we have to be men and work for the next one."

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Meanwhile, Mourinho could discover on Tuesday whether he will face a charge from the Football Association following comments about referee Anthony Taylor prior to the goalless draw at Liverpool.

The FA has contacted the United boss for his observations, which are being reviewed.

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