Jose Mourinho reveals new haircut as Manchester United prepare for second leg of EFL Cup semi-final against Hull

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Jose Mourinho turned up at Manchester United on Wednesday with a new buzz cut, boasting that he will be able to grow his hair back inside a month.

The United boss sported his new look ahead of Thursday's EFL Cup semi-final second leg at the KCOM Stadium which falls on his 54th birthday. 

It is not the first time Mourinho has had a close crop during his coaching career in England, and he poked fun at balding reporters at his pre-match press conference at Carrington. 

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho sports a short hair style at his press conference on Wednesday ahead of their EFL Cup semi-final, second leg at Hull City

The United boss was in high spirits as he joked about his new hairstyle at Carrington

'It's a privilege that I can do it,' said Mourinho, who gave a high five to one bald journalist as he left the room. 

'It is a privilege because I'm the type of guy that can do it and in one month have a new hair, a new wig. Some of you can't do it.'

Mourinho also paid tribute to Sir Alex Ferguson who has praised the Portuguese coach for turning United into a force again after a difficult start at Old Trafford. 

They are currently on a 17-game unbeaten run and in contention for four trophies.

How Mourinho's locks looked before this week's trim - on the touchline at Stoke on Saturday 

The United manager even boasted that his hair will grow back again within a month

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He added: 'The support I feel is the support I've always felt with him, except when I was a direct competitor and playing against his teams.

'I always felt this kind of support. I think I felt the same when I was abroad in Italy and Spain. Friends wishing good to each other, supporting each other by a simple SMS that can mean a lot in a certain moment. No more than that.

'He's very respectful too. He doesn't want to be around. He doesn't want to be around too many times. I think he feels completely free. 

'I told him this is house, always and forever, but just a couple of times he travelled with us on the bus, he visited us once. We know this is his club, his life and that he's supporting us.' 

Meanwhile, Mourinho fears that United will be punished for chasing success on four fronts as they face the prospect of a fixture pile-up.

United could end up playing 66 games – not including replays – if they reach the final of both domestic cups and the Europa League on top of their Premier League commitments.

Mourinho’s side take a two-goal advantage into the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final at Hull City on Thursday, and will have to re-arrange the Manchester derby if they progress to the final at Wembley on February 26.

Mourinho gestures on the touchline at the Bet 365 Stadium during Saturday's 1-1 draw

The United boss is not expecting any favours from the Premier League when the fixture is rescheduled as he expressed concerns over the build-up of games.

Mourinho revealed that he has a board in his office showing the possible fixture permutations, and claimed that United are at a significant disadvantage compared to their rivals.

He said: ‘If we beat Hull and we play the final then we don’t play against Manchester City, then the match against City I’m sure they will choose an amazing moment, difficult for us, to make us play against them.

‘Then we have the Europa League which is a non-stop competition. In the Champions League, last 16. In the Europa League, you have to play last 32 and last 16.

‘If we progress it’s going to be really difficult but let’s see. Let’s see what happens. In this moment we have 25 per cent chances to win the League Cup which is the first competition to be decided.

‘It’s nice to win the competition but I don’t think it’s crucial to doing well after that. We go competition by competition, match after match. Semi-final tomorrow then an important game in FA Cup.

‘If you lose you’re out, if you draw you have to go to another match at Wigan, and we don’t need another match. It’s going to be really difficult.

‘I have a board with all matches and possible matches on my office wall and when I look at it, the image is quite complicated.

‘We know there are teams with a wonderful life. A wonderful life we don’t want but a wonderful life. They play on the weekend, they have two days off, everybody rests, everybody enjoy, everybody comes fresh then they have three, four, five days to prepare the next match. 

'They come for that match completely fresh with the ideas completely clear, the tactical work and time to work every detail. That is a big difference to be honest.’

Mourinho confirmed that defender Eric Bailly will return to Manchester after Ivory Coast were knocked out of the Africa Cup of Nations, although he will not be available for the EFL Cup game.