As expected, Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho rung the changes for the League Cup fixture in Wales, but United proved too strong for a Swansea side that are struggling for form in the early stages of the 2017-18 campaign.
Jesse Lingard sent the visitors ahead with a fine finish in the 21st minute, before heading a Matteo Darmian cross into the far corner just before the hour for his second of the night.
United are the holders of the League Cup after overcoming Southampton in the 2017 final, and this competition has been kind to Mourinho in the past. It is not a trophy that will define the club’s season, but the result was important after losing to Huddersfield in the Premier League at the weekend.
Indeed, the last thing that United needed was to suffer another defeat at Swansea ahead of a key Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. Victory for Spurs at Old Trafford would move the London club ahead of United in the table, and Mauricio Pochettino’s side will enter the game full of confidence.
Mourinho was able to rest a number of his first-team players while picking up a positive result, and it was extremely important to return to winning ways, especially against Premier League opposition away from home. It was a professional performance from the 20-time English champions.
Axel Tuanzebe has been with United since the age of eight. He was a member of the Milk Cup winning youth teams in 2013 and 2014, and made his first team debut in the FA Cup against Wigan Athletic back in January. His first start came at Arsenal in the Premier League on May 7, and the Congo-born defender ultimately ended the 2017-18 campaign with five first team appearances to his name.
The 19-year-old did not feature in United’s third round clash against Burton Albion due to injury, but was handed a starting role at the Liberty Stadium. It was initially thought that he would start in midfield, but a three-man defence saw Tuanzebe play alongside Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof.
One thing is for certain - Tuanzebe is too good for Under-23 level. He played a key role in United’s second of the night after breaking into midfield, and was calm and composed in a defensive area.
For just the second time this season, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford started in the same team. It will not come as much of a surprise to learn that the only previous occasion was in the last round of the League Cup against Burton Albion – where both players got their name on the scoresheet.
The attacking duo have shared the left flank in the Premier League this season, with Juan Mata largely selected on the right. There is no question that Mata has his qualities, but the Spaniard was disappointing against Huddersfield, and is not exactly what could be considered a defensive winger.
Rashford provided the assist – a brilliant flick into the path of Lingard – that saw United to take the lead in the first half, and Swansea struggled to cope with the movement of the England international, who continually swapped positions with Martial.
It is unlikely that Mourinho will select the pair together away from home against the so-called bigger teams, but there are certainly occasions where they could line up in the same Premier League XI. Lingard ultimately stole the show with a brace, but Martial and Rashford, who were both substituted in the second period, complemented each other in the final third.
