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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 25/02/2017 17:29:15

| | Puel wary of “clinical” IbrahimovicSPORTSMOLE |
| | Giggs talks up importance of EFL Cup winSPORTSMOLE |
| | Claude Puel knows all about Southampton’s FA Cup Final victory against Manchester United in 1976 – and wants a …ZAPSPORTZ |
| | Jose Mourinho confirms Man United captain will play EFL Cup Final v Southampton (Video) | 101 Great Goals101GREATGOALS |

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| Opposition view: Manchester United - EFL Cup final | So, tomorrow is the big day! Saints take on Manchester United at Wembley on Sunday afternoon in the final of the EFL … 25-02-2017 |

Older content…

| Davis excited for first Wembley trip17 hours ago |
| Exclusive - EFL Cup final interview with Lee Holmes17 hours ago |
| Redmond happy to be learning under Puel2 days ago |
| Puel hopes Saints can win cup for the fans2 days ago |
| Manchester United vs Southampton: EFL Cup Final Predicted XI2 days ago |
| Manchester United vs Southampton - Combined XI2 days ago |
| How will Southampton do in the EFL Cup final?2 days ago |
| What makes a Saint?2 days ago |
| Exclusive - EFL Cup final interview with Billy Sharp2 days ago |

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Sourced from Mirror.co.uk article

EFL Cup final: 6 key questions ahead of Manchester United vs Southampton

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Manchester United and Southampton face off at Wembley on Sunday, with the year’s first major honour up for grabs.

Both Jose Mourinho and Claude Puel are in their first season at their respective clubs, and both will be hopeful of putting a real stamp on their debut years with success under the arch.

The Portuguese has a long history of landing honours, having tasted success wherever he has been.

His French counterpart on the other hand hasn’t landed a major since 2000, when guiding Monaco to Ligue 1. Nevertheless, he has a reputation for being a smart coach capable of creating sides who punch above their weight.

Silverware for Southampton would be a terrific achievement, for one of the best run football clubs in England, who have kept reinventing themselves in recent years, despite losing managers such as Mauricio Pochettino and Ronald Koeman, and a host of key players.

However, big-spending United head into the match as favourites, with Mourinho determined to set down an early marker in his quest to take the Red Devils back to the top of the English game.

Here are six key questions ahead of the meeting at Wembley:

The giant Swede arrived in Manchester with a massive reputation and has proved his worth during his debut season in English football.

Suggestions that the 35-year-old was joining his former mentor Mourinho at United simply to wind down have been torn asunder by the ex-PSG striker, who continues to age like a fine wine.

Already he has figured in 37 games for United this season, scoring 24 goals. And, as has been typical throughout his career, he has made this United side very much his own, leading in his own inimitable style.

His last visit to Wembley saw him win United the Community Shield, a towering header against Leicester serving the Premier League notice of what was to come. Will goal 25 of an outstanding season be next?

Southampton head into the game without either member of the rock solid central defensive pairing that has proven so successful in the last two seasons.

Jose Fonte left for West Ham in January for a final big-money contract in East London, but the far bigger blow has been losing his replacement as club captain, Virgil van Dijk, to injury.

The Dutchman has matured since arriving from Celtic into one of the Premier League’s very best defenders, and is much-coveted after growing into one of the divisions most dominant centre-halves.

That leaves Puel turning to Maya Yoshida and young Jack Stephens. That duo were outstanding in the 1-0 win at Anfield in the semi-final second leg, but without the Japanese, Stephens was ruthlessly dissected in the 5-0 defeat to Arsenal in the FA Cup.

Neither can hope to dominate aerially against Zlatan, who has three inches (at least) on both. Nonetheless, Puel is confident that his side can handle the Swede.

With Henrikh Mkhitaryan having picked up an injury in the midweek win over Saint Etienne, Mourinho has a decision to make in the wide areas.

Juan Mata is set to continue in the role from the right where he has been preferred for much of the season, but Mkhitaryan’s absence offers an opportunity down the left side of United’s attack.

The dilemma is whether he goes with Anthony Martial - who himself has admitted his form was better under Mourinho’s predecessor Louis van Gaal - or Marcus Rashford.

Rashford has edged ahead of Martial in Mourinho’s thoughts in recent weeks and months and when Mkhitaryan came off in midweek, Mourinho elected to go with the former, rather than the Frenchman.

Whether that means he’ll get the nod at Wembley remains to be seen.

Manolo Gabbiadini has made a stunning, and surprising, start to life on the south coast.

Frozen out by Maurizio Sarri at Napoli, the Italy striker completed an initial £14million deadline day move to Southampton and has scored three goals in two games since joining.

Sarri didn’t fancy the 25-year-old who had been signed by his predecessor, Rafa Benitez, not keen on playing him out wide, and preferring first Gonzalo Higuain and then Arkadiusz Milik as his No.9; when Milik went down injured in October, Sarri turned to Dries Mertens, the diminutive wide man, as a false nine.

So when Southampton moved late in January, replacing their own injured striker Charlie Austin, Gabbiadini jumped at the chance of a fresh start.

During his two years at Napoli, his 25 goals in all competitions came at an average rate of one every 124 minutes. A smart mover with a sledge hammer left foot, United will have to be wary.

The Spaniard first arrived in English football from Barcelona in 2011, signing for Chelsea, but failed to make his mark at Stamford Bridge during a time punctuated by serious injury and loan spells at Valencia and Stuttgart.

However, having joined Southampton in 2015 on a permanent deal, the midfield anchorman has impressed, and following the departure of Victor Wanyama to Spurs last summer has really kicked on this term, as the Saints have moved from 4-2-3-1 to 4-3-3 under Puel.

Not the quickest nor strongest in the midfield area, he makes up for it with his intelligence, his appreciation of the game and knowing exactly where he needs to be and when.

On Sunday he faces his biggest test yet, up against Paul Pogba, the world’s most expensive player.

The Frenchman’s influence is growing as he acclimatises to life at Old Trafford once more, following his return from Juventus last summer. Pogba, standing 6ft 3in, is a potent mix of glorious technique, creativity and raw, physical power.

On paper, their duel should be a complete mismatch, and Romeu will need to use all his cunning and intellect if he’s to stop Pogba showcasing his quality with a statement performance.

Their battle will go some way to determining the destiny of the trophy.

Southampton have not played since their 4-0 thumping of Sunderland two weeks ago, heading to Spain for some warm weather training in that time.

“I don’t know if it will benefit because two weeks without an official game is sometimes difficult,” said Puel. "It is always difficult to find the good balance, the good work, to keep the good result without games

In contrast, United have played three times in that period, with Europa League and FA Cup fixtures.

United will no doubt be thankful that their European tie in Saint Etienne was moved from Thursday to Wednesday, to give them an extra 24 hours, but will the vast difference in time off and planning play its part?

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Sourced from Daily Star article

Premier League table if only goals from English players counted… this is crazy!

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WHAT would the Premier League table look like if only goals from English players counted?

We’re approaching the business end of the season and it looks as though Chelsea will clinch the title with ease.

But the Premier League table would look very different if only goals from players from England counted.

Where would your side place in the standings?

Click through the gallery above to find out.

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Sourced from A tweet by hassen_mouez tweet

@hassen_mouez - Mouez Hassen

Let’s do it ! For the club, fans and all supports
#MarchToWembley #SaintsFC #WeMarchOn #EFLCupFinal

Retweets: 15

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Sourced from Daily Star article

Antonio Valencia: Man United must do this to win the EFL Cup

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Jose Mourinho’s side meet Southampton in the final at Wembley on Sunday having won the tournament in three of the last 10 years. And the Ecuadorian has a winners medal himself from the 2009/10 competition. But Valencia says United can’t trade on past glories when they take to the field on Sunday.

“I’m 100 per cent up for it. You can never be just at 30 per cent” “We have to forget about the fact that we might have won there three, four or five times,” Valencia told club’s website. "We have to put that to one side. This is another final, and a totally different story. “We cannot afford to make one single mistake, this is a final and we cannot lose our concentration for even one minute.” "I’m 100 per cent up for it. You can never be just at 30 per cent.

"When you pull on the United shirt you have to be 100 per cent focused and ready. It’s all about being totally concentrated. "We have to put all the build-up, photos and interviews completely out of our minds, and focus on the task in hand. "We’ve got a trophy up for grabs here and know just how important that is for the supporters. “We can’t approach the game in a relaxed mood; we have to go out, put in a shift and fight hard, and hope that throughout the 90 minutes, we’re in control of the game and can eventually lift the cup.”

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 25/02/2017 18:29:22

| | Puel confident of dealing with IbrahimovicSPORTSMOLE |
| | How Mourinho will prepare Manchester United for EFL Cup final vs SouthamptonMANEVNEWS |

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

#CPFC
#SAFC
#Arsenal
#LFC (twice)
#MUFC

One final step! #MarchToWembley https://grabyo.com/g/v/QskaV6TEIMR

Retweets: 3

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Sourced from A tweet by JustinRose99 tweet

@JustinRose99 - Justin Rose

As a Hampshire lad I’ll be supporting @SouthamptonFC tomorrow in the Cup Final #Saints #OWhenTheSaintsGoMarchingIn

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Sourced from Daily Echo article

Three key battles that Saints need to win at Wembley

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It will be the biggest test yet of 23-year-old Stephens if is he handed not only the pressure of a starting place at Wembley but also, therefore, the task of dealing with Ibrahimovic.

Any fears that at 35 the Swedish striker’s arrival in the Premier League might have seen him over the footballing hill have been well and truly dispelled, with 24 goals already this season underlining his deadly finishing.

Ibrahimovic is such a tricky customer. He is skill personified on the ground, but also a physically massive unit, making him a huge and bullying aerial threat.

Stephens struggled a little with West Ham’s Andy Carroll, a player of similar strengths but with far less quality than Ibrahimovic, so this would be a monumental task.

If Saints are to win at Wembley, this is a battle that must be won.

Romeu has been Mr Dependable for Saints this season. He has sat in front of the back four and shielded the defence very effectively, often able to neutralise even some of the best players at dropping between the lines.

He can spend periods of the game also sat very deep, trying to shield, recovering the ball and spraying passes about, and then suddenly spring forward with pace and purpose.

How these two match up in terms of their defensive performance will be key, but Romeu will also have to be highly vigilant when Pogba starts to burst further forward, as he has a tendency to do.

If the £89m man is on form, he can be hard to stop.

His three goals in two games have transformed how Saints fans are feeling about their season. Aand if anybody is going to provide a winner at Wembley for Claude Puel’s side, the most likely candidate has to be Manolo Gabbiadini.

His goalscoring impetus has added a new dimension to Saints in attack, who feel like they have a real cutting edge.

Gabbiadini will lurk on the shoulder of England international Smalling and attempt to constantly try and get in behind him.

If he does then, based on previous evidence, the chances are he will score.

United have so much attacking firepower in their ranks, but the real hope for Saints is that Jose Mourinho’s team are suspect at the back. The centre halves do have lapses in concentration, and Gabbiadini will be hoping to take full advantage.

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Sourced from Daily Echo article

Puel’s Saints aren’t short of cup final experience

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Jose Mourinho’s men have hoovered up a host of medals at home and abroad during their careers.

It is a given fact that most members of the United squad possesses experience of a big occasion.

But most of Claude Puel’s men are hardly novices when it comes to major cup finals.

Indeed, he can call on players who have won international tournaments as well as domestic silverware.

Just look at this list for proof …

The giant goalkeeper appeared in three finals during his time with Glasgow Celtic.

He was on the losing side in the 2010/11 Scottish League Cup final - current colleague Steven Davis among the Rangers scorers in their 2-1 win.

But he lifted the Scottish Cup later that same season and repeated the feat in 2012/13.

Will be the only reigning European Championship winner at Wembley this weekend, following Portugal’s success against Paul Pogba’s France last summer.

Prior to that, he had twice won the Portuguese Cup final - with Academica in 2012 and with Sporting Lisbon in 2015.

He might not possess great memories of that second win, however - he was sent off in only the 14th minute, Sporting holding on to draw 2-2 with Braga before winning on penalties.

Was in the Japan side that won the 2011 Asian Cup final. Ex-Saint Tadanari Lee scored Japan’s extra time winner in a 1-0 success against Australia.

Famously made his European debut for Chelsea in the 2011/12 Champions League final against Bayern Munich in Munich. Bertrand played the first 73 minutes in left midfield before being substituted.

Unlikely to play at Wembley - after only one first team appearance in two years - but in 2010/11 he helped Steaua Bucharest win the Romanian Cup.

The most decorated Saint in terms of cup winners finals, with five.

All were won during his time with Glasgow Rangers.

He came on as a 75th minute sub in the 2007/08 Scottish Cup final win over Queen of the South 2.

The same season he played the entire two hours and scored a penalty in the shoot-out as Rangers beat Dundee United on penalties in the Scottish League Cup final.

In 2008/09, Davis again won the Scottish Cup and in 2009/10 he was part of the Rangers side that won the Scottish League Cup (though he was subbed off at half-time).

The Northern Ireland captain scored the opener in Rangers’ 2-1 Scottish League Cup final win over arch rivals Celtic in 2010/11.

Davis was part of the Rangers side that reached the 2007/08 UEFA Cup final, where they were beaten 2-0 by Zenit St Petersburg.

Was a Wembley winner with Burnley in the 2008/09 Championship play off final. Came on as a 73rd minute sub in a game decided by Saints fan Wade Elliott’s goal against Sheffield United.

Still waiting for his first cup final winners’ medal. Was twice a losing finalist in the Serbian Cup for Vojvodina in both 2006/07 and 2009/10.

Was an unused sub when Chelsea won the 2011/12 Champions League final on penalties against Bayern Munich.

James Ward-Prowse Never played in a final for his club, but last summer skippered England under-21s in their Toulon Tournament final success against the host nation.

One of only two current Saints to have scored at Wembley.

He netted Norwich City’s second goal in their 2-0 win over Middlesbrough in the 2014/15 Championship play off final.

Redmond was also in the England under-21 side that won the Toulon Tournament last summer.

Came on as a late sub in England under-21’s Toulon Trophy success last summer.

One of Boufal’s last games for Lille was last season’s French League Cup final against a Paris St Germain side containing Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Swede didn’t score as Paris SG, despite being reduced to ten men 20 minutes from time, won 2-1.

The new Saints striker’s only final experience was a second half sub for Italy under-21s in their 2015 European U21 Championship final loss to Spain.

Pierre Hojbjerg Played the whole 90 minutes and 12 minutes of extra time for Bayern Munich in the 2013/14 German Cup final against Borussia Dortmund 0.

The only member of Claude Puel’s squad who has won THREE Wembley finals.

Isgrove, who is unlikely to face Manchester United, first appeared at the stadium when he helped Peterborough win the 2013/14 Football League Trophy. On loan at the time, he came on as a late sub in Posh’s 3-1 win over Chesterfield.

Last season, he twice more appeared on the winning side at Wembley.

On loan to Barnsley, he played the entire 90 minutes in his second Football League Trophy victory - a 3-2 win over Oxford United.

A few months later, he was back and scoring in Barnsley’s 3-1 League 1 play-off final success against Millwall.

The midfielder helped Saints win the 2014/15 Under-21 Premier League Cup. He appeared in both legs of the final victory over Blackburn, being sent off in the second leg at St Mary’s in the closing stages of Saints’ 2-1 success.

The youngster who set up Shane Long’s semi final second leg winner at Anfield also helped Saints win the 2014/15 Under-21 Premier League Cup.

Matt Targett and Jake Hesketh, both currently injured, also appeared for Saints in that tournament success.

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Sourced from Daily Echo article

Fancy a Wembley flutter - what odds can you get on a 1976 repeat?

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Whilst the bookies have them as outsiders, they are certainly giving them a chance.

The early betting suggests many punters are even more confident than the oddsmakers.

In the match betting it is not surprising to see a United team who have won their last five games the favourites at 4/5.

But Saints are a popular bet at just under 4/1.

So far, even with their bigger fanbase, there have only been five per cent more punters backing United over Saints, so punters clearly like what they see in Saints’ chances. A draw, taking the match into extra time, is 5/2.

In 188BET’s market on who will lift the cup, which takes extra time and penalties into account, Saints are 9/4 with United the 4/11 favourites.

Saints’ most famous Wembley win is, of course, the 1976 victory over the same opponents.

There are various bets available for history to repeat itself including the 1-0 win for Saints at 11/1.

A halftime draw-fulltime Saints win is 9/1 whilst 0-0 at half-time is 17/10 and a Saints clean sheet is just over 7/2. But is there somebody in the Saints line up destined to become the 2017 version of Bobby Stokes?

Manolo Gabbiadini has got his Saints career of to a flyer and is 9/4 with 188BET to score at any time and 13/2 for the first goal of the final.

Shane Long shares many similarities with Stokes and could be a fitting Wembley hero for Claude Puel’s men.

Much like Stokes, Long isn’t perhaps the most prolific forward in the side but he gives fans everything and will keep United’s central defenders on their toes, just as Stokes did for his 1976 winner.

Long is 13/5 to get on the scoresheet at any time or 15/2 for the last goal of the game.

To Lift The Cup: 4/11 Man Utd, 9/4 Saints Match Betting: 4/5 Man Utd, 5/2 Draw, 19/5 Saints 9/1 Saints to win & both teams to score; 36/5 Saints to win to nil; 10/1 Saints to win in extra time; 20/1 Saints to win on penalties

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1976 legend Rodrigues: There’s room in this town for two cup final winning captains!

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Peter Rodrigues is the only Saints captain to have lifted a major trophy - a load the 1976 FA Cup hero hopes to share after tomorrow.

Few expected Lawrie McMenemy’s Second Division side to lay a glove on much-fancied Manchester United 41 years ago, only for Bobby Stokes to fire home the most famous goal in the club’s history and shock the footballing world, writes SIMON PEACH.

They are footsteps the current crop will try and follow Sunday as Saints head to Wembley in the League Cup final looking to upset the odds against United once more.

The triumphant team of ‘76 has gone down in club folklore - the sole bastion of major cup success in their topsy-turvy history.

It means Rodrigues is the only man to have ever captained Saints to a major trophy - something the 73-year-old hopes will not still be the case on Sunday evening.

“I am very proud of it, extremely proud - to be skipper of a cup-winning side, you cannot take it away,” Rodrigues said.

“All the superlatives you want to use I can use for you, but it’s sort of time to move on.

“What a great result against Liverpool in the semi-final and I hope they go on and win it because I would like to actually talk to a cup-winning captain.

“To have two winning captains in the town would be nice. It would be nice to have another one around!”

Rodrigues is a proud Welshman and represented his country 40 times, but Southampton is the place he calls home.

Saints’ result is the first the former full-back looks out for when he is not down at St Mary’s, where he has been welcomed more frequently over recent years.

There is, though, a reluctance to be pushed in front of people as Saints’ cup-winning captain - a discomfort that led him to miss the 40th anniversary celebrations.

But discomfort should not be confused for apathy as Rodrigues recalls Southampton’s most famous day with remarkable detail and pride.

“I am sure it does still annoy United fans and if I’m around them I can’t help but mention it,” Rodrigues said when asked about Stokes’ winner, laughing.

“Young people talk to me and say ‘Stokesy was offside’ and you think ‘cor blimey, he wasn’t born yet he knows the ins and outs of it’.

“It is the same with the Saint supporters. You walk down the street and a dad will go ‘do you know who this is, son?’ No, is normally the response!

“It is spoken a lot down here so it always to me feels fresh. It does feel like yesterday.”

from facing page Saints’ 1976 triumph remains one of the great cup final upsets, but there had always been a quiet confidence within the group thanks to the authority of experienced players like Mick Channon, Peter Osgood and Jim McCalliog.

“I remember coming to toss the coin with Martin Buchan and his legs were shaking,” Rodrigues said of Tommy Docherty’s United captain.

“He was experienced, he’s an international, so I turned to Ossie said ‘he’s shaking like a leaf over there!’ Obviously they were concerned about us in a way.”

Saints rode an early storm and attempted to snatch a winner.

“I was looking out with 10 minutes left and could see that little cup there,” Rodrigues said.

“I was thinking ‘there could be a replay in a minute’ then, bingo, Bobby nicked it and scored. Absolutely awesome.”

Rodrigues bolted 40 yards and launched on top of his team-mates in wild celebrations that would go up several more notches after the final whistle.

“Collecting the cup from the Queen, turning half a metre and raising it to 32,000 in red and white stripes - that was the greatest moment of my life,” he said.

“You see it when you’re a kid, you think ‘that must be terrific’. I’ve done it as a player now so I know the feeling.”

Rodrigues knows it will be hard for Claude Puel’s men to repeat the feat against United, pointing to the loss of star turn Virgil van Dijk and fellow defender Jose Fonte’s move to West Ham.

There is, though, a belief that Saints can emerge triumphant - an occasion Rodrigues will enjoy with the fans at Wembley.

“When they buzz, they buzz,” he said. “I love the club to bits. I love all the players, ex-players and when we go down there you bed to each other straight away.

“I hope the club win this game. It’d be lovely, absolutely fabulous.

“It was a nice day out, 40-odd years ago and it is piece of history that needs to be broken. It needs to have a little back-up.”

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

On the #MarchToWembley tomorrow?

We’ve got some important information for all #SaintsFC fans… http://sfcne.ws/OTRWembley

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 25/02/2017 19:29:33

| | Michael Carrick will be key for Manchester United in the EFL Cup final, says Jamie RedknappSQUAWKA |
| | Notts County 0-0 Yeovil Town - as it happenedWESTERNGAZETTE |

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

EFL Cup Final Preview: Man United vs Southampton

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WHAT’S AT STAKE?

For Southampton, it’s a first major final in 14 years and the chance to win only a second major piece of silverware in the club’s history.

Claude Puel’s side will be hoping to replicate the success of Lawrie McMenemy’s 1976 team, who famously beat Manchester United 1-0 in the FA Cup final, in one of the biggest shocks in the competition’s history.

This will be Southampton’s second trip to the new Wembley Stadium, with their previous visit producing a 4-1 win over Carlisle United in the final of the 2010 Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

For United, the game is an opportunity to earn a first piece of silverware under manager José Mourinho, and a fifth League Cup title.

ROUTES TO THE FINAL

Both teams entered the competition at the third-round stage, due to their European commitments. For Saints, it has been Premier League teams all the way, while United started off at League One outfit Northampton before taking on top-flight sides the rest of the way.

Manchester United:

R3: Northampton Town (a) W 3-1 (Carrick, Herrera, Rashford)

R4: Manchester City (h) W 1-0 (Mata)

QF: West Ham United (h) W 4-1 (Ibrahimović 2, Martial 2)

SF 1: Hull City (h) W 2-0 (Mata, Fellaini)

SF 2: Hull City (a) L 1-2 (Pogba)

Southampton:

R3: Crystal Palace (h) W 2-0 (Austin pen, Hesketh)

R4: Sunderland (h) W 1-0 (Boufal)

QF: Arsenal (a) W 2-0 (Clasie, Bertrand)

SF 1: Liverpool (h) W 1-0 (Redmond)

SF 2: Liverpool (a) W 1-0 (Long)

TEAM NEWS

Manchester United: Henrikh Mkhitaryan (hamstring) is out after suffering an injury in Wednesday’s Europa League win at Saint-Etienne, but Michael Carrick (calf) is fit after going off injured in the same game. Wayne Rooney has also been struggling with a muscle injury, but has begun training again and is expected to feature, while Phil Jones will be assessed ahead of kick-off. Midfielder Ander Herrera is available again after serving a one-match suspension in midweek.

Southampton: Sofiane Boufal has returned to training after missing the 4-0 win at Sunderland with an ankle injury and will be assessed ahead of kick-off to determine whether he can play a part in the squad. New signing Martín Cáceres could also feature for the first time, after impressing on last weekend’s training camp, in Spain. Virgil van Dijk, Charlie Austin, Jérémy Pied, Matt Targett and Alex McCarthy remain sidelined.

FORM GUIDE

Both sides will head to Wembley high on confidence, with Saints having thrashed Sunderland 4-0 away from home in their last outing. United, meanwhile, are in ominous form, having lost just one of their last 25 games across all competitions.

Manchester United’s previous five:

Saint-Etienne (a) W 1-0 (Mkhitaryan) (Europa League)

Blackburn Rovers (a) W 2-1 (Rashford, Ibrahimović) (FA Cup)

Saint-Etienne (h) W 3-0 (Ibrahimović 3) (Europa League)

Watford (h) W 2-0 (Mata, Martial)

Leicester City (a) W 3-0 (Mkhitaryan, Ibrahimović, Mata)

Southampton’s previous five:

Sunderland (a) W 4-0 (Gabbiadini 2, Denayer og, Long)

West Ham United (h) L 1-3 (Gabbiadini)

Swansea City (a) L 1-2 (Long)

Arsenal (h) L 0-5 (FA Cup)

Liverpool (a) W 1-0 (Long) (EFL Cup)

TOP PERFORMERS

There is no doubt about who United’s main man is, with Zlatan Ibrahimović having banged in 24 goals already this season, across all competitions. The threat doesn’t end there, though. United have plenty of other attacking options, and Juan Mata, with nine goals and five assists, will no doubt be one to watch.

Top scorers: Zlatan Ibrahimović (24), Juan Mata (9)

Most assists: Wayne Rooney (10), Ander Herrera (7)

Unlike United, Saints will not have their top scorer available, with Charlie Austin out injured. But Manolo Gabbiadini, with three goals in his first two games for the club, should offer plenty of threat. The creativity of Dušan Tadić and James Ward-Prowse cannot be discounted by United either.

Top scorers: Charlie Austin (9), Jay Rodriguez, Shane Long (5)

Most assists: Dušan Tadić (4), James Ward-Prowse (4)

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

Unsurprisingly, United have had by far the better of the results during the long history of meetings between the sides. Still, the one and only meeting at Wembley to date went the way of Saints, so hopefully that 100 per cent record will remain intact after this weekend.

Played: 119

Manchester United: 62

Draws: 30

Southampton: 27

Previous four meetings:

August 2016: Manchester United 2-0 Southampton

January 2016: Manchester United 0-1 Southampton (Austin)

September 2015: Southampton 2-3 Manchester United (Pellè 2)

January 2015: Manchester United 0-1 Southampton (Tadić)

CLASSIC MATCH

Southampton 6-3 Manchester United (Premier League, October 1996)

DID YOU KNOW?

– Saints are just the second side in League Cup history to reach the final without conceding a goal, after Spurs managed it in 1981/82.

– Southampton’s run to the final this season has come via seven goals in the competition – all from different scorers.

– José Mourinho has reached the League Cup final three times previously – in 2005, 2007 and 2015 – winning on each occasion, with Chelsea.

– This will be the second major domestic cup final of Claude Puel’s managerial career, having taken Monaco to the French League Cup showpiece in 2001.

NOT AT THE GAME?

If you weren’t fortunate enough to get your hands on one of the sought-after tickets, don’t despair too much, as we’ll be covering all angles for you.

Our live matchday centre will be running throughout the afternoon on southamptonfc.com, with all the build-up, as well as live match updates and free audio commentary.

Additionally, we will have all the key updates, as well as loads of behind-the-scenes access from Wembley on our various social channels, so make sure you are following us on all of them…

– Twitter

– Snapchat

– Instagram

– Facebook

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Sourced from The Independent article

Claude Puel: the man with the means to stop Zlatan Ibrahimovic in his tracks

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The Swedish forward remains one of the world’s most-feared centre-forwards, even at 35 years old, and though many had doubted him, his Manchester United career thus far has proven him to be anything but past it.

He is, famously, a martial artist of some repute. He is the son of immigrants, a product of the Balkans via Rosengard and made into a striker of artistry, almost a playmaking number 9, who has won more trophies than he can remember across Europe.

But one thing Zlatan is not is a League Cup winner, nor is he a surprise package to Claude Puel, who has gameplanned for him in Ligue 1 and will do so again at Wembley as Southampton look to stifle the most prolific goalscorer in the top flight this season.

“I know Ibrahimovic very well from the French Premier League so I cannot be surprised by him,” said Puel.

"In France, he was a fantastic player but all the people say ‘Okay, it is the French Premier League and not the English one’.

“But he has come here, he is 35 and he can do a fantastic job, fantastic work.”

Many observers had seen Ibrahimovic’s big-money move to Paris in 2012, the splashy signing that kick-started their new era of success and lent it credibility, as a pre-retirement tour akin to China or Major League Soccer.

It turned out to simply be a trophy-laden pit-stop before rejoining his former boss Jose Mourinho in the Premier League.

Ibrahimovic had retired from international football before he even came to England and was, in football terms, pensionable age. In a team that has not exactly set the league alight, his goal haul stands out as even more impressive. A golden seal on an already glittering career.

So how does he continue to do it?

“He is clinical,” said Puel, "very efficient and also he gives a good authority to the team. He is a character player.

"He is very self-confident - he plays with this. He is a strong man and a strong partner. At Paris St-Germain he gave a good atmosphere around the team and gave his team fantastic confidence.

“He doesn’t run a lot but always with a good run, with good play, good gestures. It is fantastic to see him.”

Whether Puel, who has turned around a poor start on the south coast to have a quietly impressive debut season in Angleterre, still feels so delighted to see the Swede again will likely depend on Ibrahimovic’s impact on the EFL Cup final itself.

Southampton’s defence has been one of the best in the league, with only inconsistency and that rocky September preventing them from battling for European places. They are to be respected.

And while Wembley is a grand stage and one where players like Zlatan thrive, bidding to stop him is a man who knows his strengths and knows his weaknesses.

The only surprise would be if Ibrahimovic has it easy.

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Sourced from A tweet by OficialCedric tweet

@OficialCedric - Cédric Soares

Let’s bring this Cup home!
#SaintsFC #WeMarchOn #MarchToWembley

Retweets: 19

Favourites: 112

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Sourced from Daily Star article

EFL Cup final: Man Utd handed big blow as key star doesn’t travel for Southampton clash

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The Red Devils take on Southampton at Wembley tomorrow as Jose Mourinho goes in search of his first major piece of silverware at Old Trafford. But he may have to do it without one of his key players.

The Spaniard was not spotted by photographers as the rest of his team-mates boarded a train heading south. The Manchester Evening News’ Samuel Luckhurst tweeted: “Photographers say they ‘never saw’ Juan Mata with #mufc squad at Stockport Station.”

It is unconfirmed if Mata is out of the game but the signs are not good for Mourinho. Mata may have made his way to London separately but that would seem odd considering the rest of the team travelled as one.

Mourinho told his players who was in the squad today and it is unlikely the Spaniard would not be selected if fit. Bastian Schweinsteiger and Wayne Rooney did travel and there were questions over whether both would feature.

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

Spotify: Cédric picks Wembley song

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