EPL: This is not for kids, Mourinho slams Manchester United players

Manager Mourinho urges Manchester United players to own up in mature fashion after Chelsea mauling in Premier League and gear up for City clash

Manchester United's Ander Herrera and Daley Blind (right) sport a dejected look during their 1-4 loss to Chelsea in the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge in London on Sunday. Pic/Getty Images. Inset: Jose Mourinho

London: Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola face off for the second time this season when Manchester United entertain holders Manchester City in the English League Cup fourth round on Wednesday.

Guardiola's City took the spoils when he and Mourinho resumed hostilities in September, winning 2-1 at Old Trafford through goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Kelechi Iheanacho.

But City have gone off the boil since, Sunday's 1-1 draw with Southampton leaving them without a win in five games, while United crashed to a crushing 4-0 defeat at Mourinho's former club Chelsea.

Asked whether the identity of his side's League Cup opponents would help motivate his hurting players, Mourinho told MUTV: "I would prefer to play in the Premier League. It's a bad feeling in the Premier League. With the combination of results, the gap to the top is six points. We've had a very difficult period of matches. We are really, really sad, but again this is not for kids. This is for men we have to be men and work for the next one."

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