Jose Mourinho understands why League Cup is not always a priority for clubs

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho believes English football could be better off without the League Cup.

Seven months after lifting the trophy at Wembley, United began their defence of what is now called the Carabao Cup by comfortably overcoming Sky Bet Championship side Burton.

Marcus Rashford's brace was complemented by goals from Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial on a night when Lloyd Dyer netted a late consolation in a win as comfortable for Mourinho's Reds as the 4-1 scoreline suggests.

United's strength in depth allowed them to make nine alterations without a noticeable dip in quality - but the visitors' nine changes meant it was likely to be a matter of how many the hosts scored.

The fact Burton view the early weeks of the league season as more important than a trip to Old Trafford highlights the issues with a competition that even last season's triumphant manager Mourinho believes could be dispensable.

"You know, if the competition is an official competition, it is important for Manchester United and for me as a manager and I want the players to think the same way," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"If you ask me could English football survive or even be better without this competition? Maybe.

"Maybe we would be fresher for European competitions, for example.

"But we have this competition, we have to respect, we have to respect the sponsors, we have to respect the opponents, we have to respect the professionalism of all of us trying to do the best.

"If we can win it, we win it. If we don't win it is because the opponents were better than us."

It was a cutting remark about a competition that has run since the 1960-61 season - and a view that is sure to be met by a response from the English Football League.

United's reward for beating Burton is a trip to Swansea in the fourth round, with Mourinho happy to come through the Carabao Cup tie without any injury concerns or cards.

The manager was quick to praise his attacking quartet of Rashford, Juan Mata, Lingard and Martial, with the latter looking sharp throughout the 90 minutes.

"He is starting lots of time," Mourinho said of Martial. "He started in the Champions League a few days ago, so he is always playing.

"I think he played every match, some starting, some from the bench.

"Of course I am happy with his performance, with his happiness on the pitch.

"He wanted to do things - a few thing he did amazingly well, others not so well but he was always trying and, for me, that commitment, that happiness on the pitch is very important."

Burton's travelling support also went home relatively happy from their second ever trip to Old Trafford thanks to Dyer's last-gasp goal.

Asked if it was a hard half-time team-talk, Nigel Clough - who like counterpart Mourinho did not bother with a post-match press conference - told Sky Sports: "No, honestly not in some ways.

"It was just 'keep going', it was trying to keep the spirits up and you don't want it to go five, six, seven nil.

"But it was lovely for our supporters to get a goal. Most of them will never have dreamt that Burton Albion would ever score at Old Trafford.

"Never mind playing here twice in 11 years, we've actually scored a goal now."