One supposedly easier route to a first trophy since 2017 has already been totally sealed off again for Manchester United as Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s team was booted out of the EFL Cup in the third round by a re-galvanized West Ham on Wednesday.
It was the visitors’ Manuel Lanzini who clinched a 1-0 win – and a first management victory at Old Trafford for David Moyes’ seven years after United fired him – after sweeping in from Ryan Fredericks’ cutback.
The fourth round will now see West Ham taking on their other city rivals, Manchester City, winners of the last four League Cup finals, as the London club chases a first domestic trophy since the 1980 FA Cup.
United featured a completely revamped line-up from the side that won at West Ham in the Premier League on Sunday without Cristiano Ronaldo in action. Although out of the Carabao Cup, it is in the Premier League after five rounds that United remains in contention among the frontrunners.
ON a greater note of concern, United also lost its opening game in the group stage of the Champions League last week against Young Boys.
“We know it’s going to be a long, long journey all season,” Solskjær said. “Champions League, FA Cup, Premier League. We have got loads of games.”