Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has recently been lamenting the fixture schedule he must guide his team through over the next fortnight, ending with the EFL Cup final against Southampton at the end of the month.

The League Cup is something which Mourinho values very highly each season, looking to use it as a springboard for further successes by bringing a tangible winning mentality to his squad.

However, before they can focus on their date at Wembley with Claude Puel’s side a week on Sunday they must first navigate ties with St. Etienne, home and away, and Blackburn Rovers in the Europa League and FA Cup respectively.

Meanwhile, their opponents in the final, Southampton, played their last game before the trip to Wembley when they beat Premier League strugglers Sunderland 4-0 at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

With the Saints out of both Europe and the FA Cup, having finished third in their Europa League group and been given a hiding at the hands of Arsenal in the FA Cup fourth round, they have a break of 15 days in which to prepare for their first major final in 14 years.

Mourinho’s men, on the other hand, will be travelling back from the south of France on the Thursday night, having faced St. Etienne for the second time in a week, before making their way to London for the final on the Sunday.

Whilst this may, on the face of it, appear to put Southampton at an advantage, their preparations are beginning with four days off for the players after a hectic few months, it could work out to be quite the opposite.

The former Chelsea manager, who won three League Cups during his time in London, is well versed in balancing a squad to compete with tiredness and fitness thus, that should not be a problem for the eleven that eventually step out at Wembley.

The Red Devils have three games to battle through before they can turn their thoughts to Southampton and, whilst that may appear troublesome, win all three and they will be extremely high on confidence, and hard to handle from a Saints perspective.

Considering their run of form over the last few months, a League Cup semi-final second leg defeat to Hull is their only loss since October, you wouldn’t bet against them easily getting through the next three games before travelling down to London ready to win another and take home the first major trophy of Mourinho’s reign.

Down on the south coast, the win against Sunderland will be just what manger Claude Puel will have needed to turn their torrid form around. However, having got a win after a poor run, all he will really want to keep that going is another game as quick as possible. Despite being given time to prepare with his squad, there is nothing like winning a couple of games in quick succession to get a side ready for the final.

So, although it may appear that the packed fixture schedule, compared to Southampton’s, is unfair and quite the disadvantage, should things go to plan it could turn out to be quite the blessing.