Manchester United vs Derby: Jose Mourinho believes new League Cup rules could produce more giant-killings

Jose Mourinho claims Manchester United could be victims of a giant-killing after changes to League Cup rules.

United face Championship Derby at Old Trafford on Tuesday, with Mourinho coming up against his former Chelsea player Frank Lampard for the first time as a manager.

He believes rule changes, which mean the game will go straight to penalties if the sides are level after 90 minutes, have increased the likelihood of a shock.

“I think it’s good because no extra time,” said Mourinho.

“Especially (for) the teams that are playing European competitions and especially when it goes to the end of the competitions (because) extra time is really, really difficult.

“But I think it is a good advantage to the teams that are not favourites because a draw takes the game immediately to a penalty shoot-out and we know that it’s a lottery.

“So there is a better chance for the teams not considered favourites, which I think brings some more beauty to the game and brings more possibility of killing giants because how many times (do the) big teams in 30 minutes of extra time win the ties?”

Mourinho has won the League Cup on four occasions during his time with Chelsea and United.

He insists he will take it seriously again, despite United’s Premier League and Champions League ambitions - adding that the new format means he is less likely to take risks with his selection.

“I’m just thinking about the matches and this one is a cup match and the rules change,” he said. “In this moment you don’t even have the possibility of after a draw playing 30 more minutes - you go straight to a penalty shootout which obviously is a 50-50 situation. So it is a match of 90 minutes, which we have to try to win and the choice of the players is based on that. We have to try to win.

“I like the cups and of course everybody knows the difference between the FA Cup and League Cup, but as a cup competition I like the feeling of the knockout. You win, you are in the competition, you lose, you are out.

“I like that pressure and honestly I think fans they also like it.”