MAN UNITED 4, WIGAN ATHLETIC 0
Manchester United made sweeping changes but, unlike other Premier League sides who did likewise, avoided an exit from the Emirates FA Cup.
While Liverpool and Hull lost to lower league opponents and Tottenham scraped past minnows Wycombe, United breezed past Championship club Wigan Athletic at Old Trafford.
It took United 44 minutes to break Latics’ resistance but, after that goal went in, it was game over.
And in the second half there were further goals from Chris Smalling, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Bastian Swieinsteiger.
And manager Jose Mourinho later revealed that Schweinsteiger will be staying and be included in the Europa League squad for the knockout phase that begins next month.
Mourinho added that the departures of Morgan Schneiderlin and Memphis Depay has left United short of midfield options that the German provides as they chase silverware on four fronts.
United’s manager was unhappy with the Reds’ first-half display, but in the second played with more intensity in their passing and movement.
Mourinho was asked about the club’s prospects in the four competitions – they are the only club in Europe’s major leagues still involved in four competitions.
He said: Realistically the Premier League is almost impossible, the League Cup is 50/50, we are in the last 16 of the FA Cup and last 32 in the Europa League.
“There are lots of matches to play and imagine there will be some amazing gifts like Watford playing today and again on Tuesday.”
And Mourinho was highly critical of the fixture schedulers adding: “How it is expected to play on Sunday and Tuesday is absolute nonsense.
“It is not just Watford, and I know there will be surprises for us and it will be difficult.
“Liverpool have 16 games left and Chelsea 16 (plus the FA Cup). In this crazy situation, Southampton will have 15 days without football before the League Cup final whereas we play St Etienne twice and in the next round of the FA Cup.
“The calendar in the best country in world football is nonsense.”
Like so many other Premier League clubs in the competition, United made sweeping changes – nine from the side that played in the EFL Cup semi final at Hull in midweek.
Fellaini and Juan Mata were the only survivors, but the Reds still had 10 full internationals in their starting line up.
There was a first start for more than a year for German Bastian Schweinsteiger.
United still had some of their big guns, notably Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcus Rashford held in reserve on the bench while Paul Pogba didn’t feature at all.
It was a lukewarm opening with Wigan carving out two chances in the opening 25 minutes, the efforts from Callum Connolly and Max Power both straight at keeper Sergio Romero.
United’s first goal attempt after 24 minutes was a rising shot from Mata that cleared the crossbar.
The Reds had a great chance to take the lead when Mkhitaryan slid in at the far post to meet an Anthony Martial cross, but spooned his shot over the crossbar from a couple of yards.
Wigan defended resolutely until the 44th minute when United finally broke the deadlock with their first on target goal attempt as Fellaini headed home a Schweinsteiger cross from inside the six-yard box for his second goal of the season.
United were lucky not to concede an equaliser early in the second half when keeper Sergio Romero cut out a cross but only pushed the ball out to David Perkins whose shot was well kept out by the Argentine.
After that moment of good fortune, United quickly made it 2-0 when Smalling stayed upfield following a corner. Martial eventually crossed from the left and the central defender headed home from inside the six-yard box.
United handed a first-team debut to 19-year-old Congo defender Axel Tuanzebe who replaced Tim Fosu-Mensah at right back with 21 minutes left.
He was soon followed by Ander Herrera who took over from Fellaini.
United’s third goal in the 74th minute was the pick as it followed a terrific break started and finished by Mkhitaryan. The Armenian sprayed a pass out to Martial on the left wing and sprinted into the box to fire home from six yards.
Wigan had the chance of a consolation goal, but substitute Marcus Browne’s shot was deflected narrowly wide for a corner.
And United also handed a debut to Portuguese goalkeeper Joel Pereira for the last 10 minutes as he replaced Romero. He had previously had loan spells at Rochdale and Belenenses in Portugal.
The biggest cheer of the afternoon came when Schweinsteiger made it 4-0 with nine minutes left.
Herrera headed a corner towards goal and the German hooked in a low shot from six yards for only his second goal for United.