THERE is one thing Jose Mourinho likes more than red wine – and that's lifting trophies.
And if things go to plan today he could be celebrating his first success in charge of Man United with a vintage Bordeaux from Sir Alex Ferguson.
United are 17-20 with Paddy Power to beat Southampton inside 90 minutes in the EFL Cup Final and 2-5 with McBookie on the outrights.
Saints are 2-1 at Paddy Power to lift the trophy and 22-5 to triumph in normal time. A couple of months those would have looked massive prices but Claude Puel's men have gone off the boil since beating Liverpool home and away to reach Wembley.
They were hammered 5-0 at home to Arsenal in the FA Cup then lost to Swansea and West Ham.
But last time out they stunned Sunderland 4-0 and since that game United have beaten Blackburn in the FA Cup and St Etienne away in the Europa League so they will be more rested.
However, Mourinho's been rotating quite well to stay in contention on four fronts and veteran striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic could make the difference.
He was a surprise starter in France but having netted a double in a 2-0 defeat of Southampton earlier in the season he'll be the man they fear. The super Swede is 7-2 with McBookie to score first and 13-10 at Coral to net at any time.
Ibrahimovic scored at Wembley in the Community Shield at the start of the season and netted four goals in four domestic finals for PSG.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan was injured against St Etienne and his absence is a blow but Paul Pogba is another man for the big occasion and the £89million star is 4-1 at Paddy Power to net at any time.
It could be tight and tense and with only one side netting in three of the last four meeetings consider under 2.5 goals at 8-11 with 188BET. United's revival has been built on solid defence as opposed to dynamic attack and a slow burner could be 0-0 at half-time and that pays 7-4 at Paddy Power.
Saints will miss the steadying influence of Virgil van Dijk at the back but new signing Marco Gabbiadini has added something to their attack and is 7-2 at Marathonbet to score.
Bets to Consider
United to win in 90 minutes
Ibrahimovic to score
Pogba to score
Under 2.5 match goals
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
Zlatan played 90 minutes in France on Wednesday
He did indeed – and I watched the game too.
I’ll update it – I reckon I started writing that piece last Tuesday when it was suggested he wouldn’t travel.
Anything can happen in a cup final .Southampton 11/1 and btts is massive will be on that.
That’s true but for me Man United have the manager and players in Pogba and Zlatan to get the job done.