Mourinho hopes Wembley win kick-starts new era for United

LONDON - Jose Mourinho challenged his Manchester United stars to use their dramatic League Cup final victory over Southampton as a springboard to greater success.

Mourinho lifted the first major trophy of his United reign on Sunday after Zlatan Ibrahimovic's late header clinched a 3-2 Wembley win.

The 54-year-old is the first manager to win a major competition in his maiden season at Old Trafford, while the 19th trophy of his career made him only the third boss, after United great Alex Ferguson and Nottingham Forest legend Brian Clough, to enjoy four League Cup triumphs.

United will hope the FA Cup and Europa League trophies follow this term, but, ideally, Premier League and Champions League glory will be on the horizon next season.

United's most recent league title was in 2013, while it last got its hands on Europe's top prize nine years ago.

And Mourinho hopes with Sunday's win United can begin to leave its fallow years behind.

"The reality is that we want more. My contract is long, I have two more years with this one, so hopefully I can win more," the United manager said.

"This season I know it's difficult, but the reality is we have to try to fight for more."

Mourinho wore a stern expression during the trophy presentation, but said he was merely hiding his pride.

"I am very happy. I always try to put myself in the secondary position - it's important for the fans, the club, the players, but it's also important for me," the Portuguese said.

"I put a lot of pressure on myself, you (the media) put a lot of pressure on myself. I wanted very much to win a major trophy at every club. By doing that with Manchester United it's quite the sense of relief because it was a big target for me.

"I feel very happy with the victory and the fact I did it four times, the same as the biggest one (Ferguson) and Mr Clough."

A sublime Ibrahimovic free kick and a Jesse Lingard strike put United up 2-0, but a Manolo Gabbiadini brace brought the Saints level before Ibrahimovic's 87th-minute winner.

"You could feel in the game the difference in freshness," Mourinho said of United's indifferent display.

"Southampton were in Spain, relaxing and preparing, and we were playing Europa League and FA Cup.

"We coped because we are humble, we stuck together and fought together, then we had a bit of luck because the 3-2 came at a moment when they couldn't react."

Immense Ibra

Mourinho's main target now is to guarantee Champions League action next season by securing a top-four Premier League finish.

Key to achieving that will be keeping Ibrahimovic fit and firing on all cylinders.

The veteran former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain striker was written off by many when he arrived at Old Trafford on a free transfer last year, but his double took his tally to 26 in all competitions this season.

And Mourinho, who coached the Swede at Inter Milan, said he never doubted his signing would succeed.

"I was his manager, I know his potential," said the Portuguese.

"Only a silly player comes to England at 35 years old, and with the successful career that Zlatan has, if he doesn't feel he can do it, he wouldn't have come.

"Who better to know? Him. Not me, not you. Him."

Ibrahimovic's future remains uncertain as his contract expires in May, but Mourinho expects him to stay.

"I never beg for a player to sign a contract. I never beg for a player to play for me," Mourinho said.

"But if needed, maybe United fans can go to the door of his house, and stay there all night! We all want, and believe, that he is going to stay another season."

Sulky Saints left wishing for a rewind

Southampton boss Claude Puel bemoaned his team's rotten luck and the absence of video technology in soccer after a contentious offside ruling potentially cost his side victory in Sunday's League Cup final at Wembley.

The Saints were denied the second major trophy in their history as Zlatan Ibrahimovic's 87th-minute header gave Manchester United a 3-2 victory.

It was cruel fate for Southampton as it was the better side for long periods and battled back from two goals down to move within a whisker of emulating its 1976 FA Cup final upset of United.

Puel was especially frustrated when an early first-half Manolo Gabbiadini strike, which would have been the opening goal, was wrongly ruled offside.

The French coach called for video technology to be used to determine such close calls.

"I would like of course the video for the future, for this situation for example," Puel said.

"For the moment in soccer without video, and just sometimes a bad decision goes against us.

"It's important to accept this but I am disappointed for the players and the fans."

Adding insult to injury, Southampton, for which Gabbiadini scored twice, also hit the post before Ibrahimovic's late winner.

"It's very hard to lose this game," said Puel. "Before the third goal, we had the best opportunities to win. It's a big disappointment."

With its first major final since 2003 ending in despair, Puel must find a way to lift Southampton, which has a chance of Europa League qualification.

"I hope we can continue with this level," he said. "It will be a big challenge to stay at this level in the league."

Agence France-Presse

Zlatan Ibrahimovic shows off the English League Cup trophy and soaks up the adulation after his brace, including an 87th-minute winner, helped Manchester United to a 3-2 victory over Southampton in the final at Wembley in London on Sunday. Tim Ireland / Ap