Is Manchester United Struggling Again?

Three thoughts on Hull’s 2-1 win vs. Manchester United in the EFL Cup semifinal second leg. United advance to the final, 3-2 on aggregate, and will play Southampton at Wembley on Feb. 26.

Jose Mourinho remains on course to win a trophy in his first season at Manchester United, but complacency almost ended his dream, with Hull City deserved claiming a deserved second-leg victory.

The half-hearted manner of his team’s performance will enrage Mourinho, though, and see the Portuguese manager demand an upturn in standards from his players. With their 2-0 first-leg lead, United appeared to approach this game as though the tie was already over and Hull almost made them pay a heavy price.

Defensively, United were slack and in midfield, £89m, world record signing Paul Pogba flattered to deceive once again, with Hull’s Tom Huddlestone dominating the Frenchman. Further forward, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was off the pace, while Marcus Rashford was unable to put the finishing touch to some dangerous runs into Hull territory.

But perhaps this defeat will work in favour of Mourinho and United because it can offer a reality check that the club’s 17-game unbeaten run was a first step toward becoming a top team, rather than proof that level has been reached.

United still have their flaws and shortcomings but, despite that, they can win the EFL Cup next month and add silverware to the Old Trafford trophy cabinet once again.

Hull, meanwhile, displayed their fighting spirit under Silva and gave their supporters hope that they can avoid relegation under their own Portuguese coach.

Eric Bailly could return to action for United in Sunday’s FA Cup fourth-round tie against Wigan Athletic, following Ivory Coast’s surprise early exit from the African Nations Cup, and his availability is well-timed for Mourinho after defensive frailties were highlighted at the KCom Stadium.

Phil Jones was booked early in the game for a clumsy foul, Chris Smalling brought uncertainty to the back four and both full-backs, Matteo Darmian and Marcos Rojo, returned to the erratic form they displayed prior to Mourinho’s arrival.

Jones, in particular, has looked strong and impressive since returning to the team earlier this season, but the majority of his games have come alongside Rojo at centre-half. At Hull, it appeared as though Smalling’s presence brought back the concentration problems that had blighted United until Mourinho instilled greater focus.

Bailly is United’s best defender and his presence should restore the certainty that has diminished in recent games. Jones will improve even further once the former Villarreal defender is positioned alongside him, with greater competition also benefiting the England centre-half.

Antonio Valencia’s value at right-back was also highlighted by his absence at Hull, but Mourinho still needs to resolve his problems at left-back; an issue which a fully-fit Luke Shaw could resolve if he is given the chance by the United manager.

Marco Silva was a relative unknown in English football when he replaced the sacked Mike Phelan as Hull manager earlier this month, but the Portuguese has already silenced his critics by making his team difficult to beat and organised during his three weeks in charge.

The Tigers gave United plenty of problems in a game that many had expected to be uneventful. Although they took the lead through a debatable first-half penalty, Hull deserved their breakthrough and could have led by more had they converted their dominance into goals.

Prior to Silva’s arrival, Hull were beginning to look dead-and-buried and it difficult to imagine Phelan’s team producing this kind of spirited performance in the final weeks of his reign.

Silva’s task of keeping Hull in the Premier League will be made much harder if the likes of Robert Snodgrass and Abel Hernandez are allowed to leave the club before Tuesday’s transfer deadline.

But the new coach has recruited Oumar Niasse, Lazar Markovic and Evandro this month — three players with a point to prove — and Silva is clearly prepared to be bold in his attempts to keep the club up.

Niasse failed miserably at Everton during his 12 months at Goodison Park, making just seven appearances for the club, but his winning goal late in this game will give both him and his team renewed confidence of survival.