The Red Devils boss suggested his side do not have any advantage over Southampton in the EFL Cup, seemingly in a veiled dig at the Liverpool manager

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has claimed that his side are not favourites to lift the EFL Cup – using Jurgen Klopp’s ‘windy’ excuse to play down his team’s chances.

The Red Devils defeated Hull City 3-2 on aggregate to set up a winner-takes-all clash with Southampton on Sunday, February 26.

Mourinho’s men have been installed as early favourites to win the final, despite losing on the night against the Tigers in Thursday’s meeting at the KCOM Stadium.

The Portuguese does not, however, believe his side should be considered as having a better chance than the Saints, claiming that the weather conditions could play an important part in deciding the winners.

“I don’t think we are favourites against nobody,” Mourinho told reporters after the game.

“It doesn’t matter against who, we are never favourites.

“Normally the stadium is windy and it’s difficult.”

Mourinho’s quotes could be perceived as a veiled dig at Klopp, with the German having blamed the wind for his side’s defeat to the Saints on Wednesday.

“First half, it was difficult – the wind was really strange, it was difficult to handle,” Klopp said.

“You saw one or two balls when the ball stopped in a moment when nobody knew about it. That was difficult for a football-playing side.”

The final is Southampton’s first major final since the 2003 FA Cup, while United are looking to lift the trophy for the fifth time.

It will also be Mourinho’s fourth League Cup final, having won the trophy on all three previous occasions as manager of Chelsea.