Erik ten Hag needs to do what he did last season to help save Manchester United's season

The Carabao Cup, whether people like it or not, is a major honour in English football. Admittedly, the competition doesn't often boast the magic of the FA Cup. But tell any supporter of any club who has watched their team lift the trophy that the League Cup isn't a proper trophy and they'll quickly disagree.

The perks of winning the Carabao Cup can sometimes be even greater than winning the silverware itself. In 2005, Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea beat Liverpool in a 3-2 thriller to win his first trophy in England.

Securing that first crown gave the likes of Frank Lampard, John Terry and Didier Drogba a taste of success before dominating the league in the following years. Sir Alex Ferguson said of his 2006 triumph over Wigan Athletic: "We had a great spell in the '90s. A phenomenal spell but, from the moment we won the European Cup, there has been a period of catch-up from the other clubs.

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"We face much stiffer competition now and it's not easy winning trophies. There are only four available each year, so winning one is good, I tell you. No matter what trophy it is, you've got to take it, because there are plenty of teams who won't win anything. Not world-renowned clubs like Manchester United, maybe, but still big, big teams with great histories."

Two barren years increased United’s respect for the competition when faced with a final at the Millennium Stadium. An emphatic 4-0 win helped lay the foundations for the all-conquering side of the late-noughties that achieved European and domestic domination.

Across the city, Pep Guardiola dominated