Erik ten Hag is unlikely to make the same mistake in the League Cup as other Manchester United managers

The League Cup is not the most cherishable trophy but still impressive in the flesh. Two days after Manchester United regained it last season, it was on display in the Jimmy Murphy Centre at Carrington and those of us present for a press conference were invited to have our photograph with it.

With its three handles, the Georgian-style silver is distinctive and the font is redolent of 1960s boardrooms. It did not always feel so special for United.

Prior to last season, the last time a United manager brought a trophy into the Wembley press conference room, it was the end for Louis van Gaal. For Erik ten Hag, it was just the start.

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Ten Hag placed the League Cup front and centre on the table at Wembley in a vast room double for a lecture theatre. When the press conference ended, Ten Hag forgot the cup until alerted by journalists.

“I can leave it because the next one," he chortled. "This one is in.” Onto the next one.

After United won the League Cup for only the second time in 2006, the United Rant website wrote, "Thanks, Sir Alex, but now go... It's a trophy - not an important one - but some silverware nonetheless. Go with your head held high."

Since that breakthrough against Wigan, United have treated the competition more seriously. Ferguson lifted it two more times two seasons running, Jose Mourinho continued his love affair with the competition, David Moyes and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took United to the semi-finals and February's defeat of Newcastle saw Erik ten Hag become the eighth manager to win a trophy with United.

Louis van Gaal was not as enthusiastic, dismissing a humiliating second-round ejection by MK