Mourinho won't judge this season on the cup final

With second place secured in the Premier League, the Reds are bidding to end 2017/18 on a high with silverware at Wembley and a record-equalling 13th cup triumph.

The manager was asked at his pre-match press conference whether winning or losing this weekend made a difference to the campaign as a whole.

“Of course it makes a difference, but one thing is to make a difference and another thing is to consider the season good or bad because of one match,” he replied.

“When I analyse the work I did, when I analyse the effort I put in, when I analyse everything we all did at the club, that obviously includes the most important people at the club, who are the players.

“I'm not going to analyse them because of one very important match. But I know what my players did, I know what I put in, I know the effort, I know the positive things, I know the negative things and I'm not going to change my analysis of the season because of the result of one match. Not at all.”

United travelled down south on Wednesday and have been using Watford’s training facilities in the build-up to Saturday’s showpiece.

And Mourinho has appreciated the time spent away from Manchester with his squad, who will soon disperse for the close season. 

“We are not going to see each other for about two months – tomorrow after the game is goodbye,” the boss said. “It’s holiday for some and the dream and the motivation of the World Cup for others.

“But tomorrow afternoon is goodbye and see you mid-July for some, beginning of August for others. So to be here for three days is good. 

“As you can see, the weather is nice, the place is nice. Thank you very much to Watford FC for letting us use their facilities for two training sessions.

“Everything is relaxed and calm and we enjoy being together and, as I was saying, tomorrow after the match is goodbye.”