Given Jose Mourinho's affinity with the League Cup it is surprising to hear him say that English football could be better off without it. It is also very hard to agree.
The competition was the first one Mourinho won in England, with Chelsea in 2005. Last year it became his first trophy with United, too.
After winning the Europa League in May, he encouraged his players to hold up three fingers — one for each trophy won.
So we can presume it has mattered to Mourinho in the past and we hope it will continue to matter now.