Marcus Rashford starts for Manchester United at Chelsea

‘When Jose says anything negative, even if it is coded, about Antonio Conte then Chelsea fans are simply not going to accept it.

United would be greatly helped by a good performance from Pogba on Thursday as they look to seal a spot in the quarter-finals after drawing 1-1 in the first leg in Rostov. It’s normal. But the most important thing is to play football. United were in four competitions after the turn of the year and this is what a not so impressed Mourinho said after beating Wigan 4-0 in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

“I thought we were going to win because everything was under control, then with 10 men it was very hard for us”.

They lifted the first major trophy of the Mourinho era with a League Cup final victory against Southampton last month and remain in contention for further silverware in the FA Cup and Europa League.

With Chelsea blazing a trail at the Premier League’s summit and United way off the pace in sixth with a battle to ensure Champions League qualification ahead, the incentive is there for Mourinho to inflict revenge on Antonio Conte’s side.

Jose Mourinho reproached Conte’s celebratory attitude after his team humiliated the United. But once they had a player sent off it was easier.

Straight out of the Mourinho copybook was his verbal riposte to those fans who had called him “Judas” from the stands during the 1-0 FA Cup defeat. Spurs have 56 from 27, City have 55 from 27 and Arsenal have raked up 50 from 26 games.

Though the goal is only Kante’s second of the season across all competitions, in fact both have been against United.

“Until the moment they have a manager that wins four Premier Leagues for them, I’m the No. 1”.

“If players were robots”, he complained, “I would win every week”.

The two teams have been drawn against each other in the FA Cup on 11 previous occasions.

Chelsea booked their place at Wembley in April with a dominant display against United, although the key moment came when Herrera was given his marching orders late in the first half after two fouls on Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard.

Monday was the second time Herrera has been sent off for two bookable offences this season, with the Spain midfielder now serving a two-match domestic ban.

Mourinho, though, said after the game that the France worldwide was “by far the best player on the pitch” and hit out at pundits, saying: “The specialists will say a lot about him and it comes from envy”.