Jose Mourinho-less Manchester United cruise to 4-1 EFL Cup quarterfinals win over West Ham

There was something missing in Manchester United’s comprehensive 4-1 EFL Cup quarterfinals win over West Ham United on Wednesday. A scowling Portuguese man, prone to histrionics. And his head of salt-and-pepper hair, coiffed just so, peering out over the collar of his jacket.

United manager Jose Mourinho was suspended for a game for getting sent off for the umpteenth time in the Red Devils’ meeting with the Hammers last Sunday. And his large presence was conspicuous in its absence.

Yet some other things were gone as well: the attacking slump that has limited United to one goal or less in eight of its nine games in domestic play in October and November. The sense of nervousness and angst in the Red Devils’ game, on show once again when these sides tied 1-1 at Old Trafford three days earlier. Anthony Martial’s domestic scoring drought, dating back almost two months. The lack of appreciation for big summer signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan, recruited from Borussia Dortmund to much fanfare but largely marginalized by Mourinho. The exile of Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Because United scored simply and gracefully, slicing through the West Ham defense with ease. And the Red Devils did it with confidence and style. Martial scored twice. Mkhitaryan started and gave two majestic assists. And Schweinsteiger made his first appearance of the season in the 87th minute.

In just the second minute, a splendid back heel by Mkhitaryan freed up Zlatan Ibrahimovic for a dink past goalkeeper Adrian. The Swedish striker was nearly rugby-tackled to the ground by defender Angelo Ogbonna and was then taken out by the goalkeeper, but he scored regardless for the first of his two goals.

A short while later, a seemingly liberated Wayne Rooney, in his beloved No. 10 role, played Zlatan in, but Adrian twice denied him one-on-one this time around.

West Ham would get an equalizer before halftime. Dimitri Payet’s shot was bobbled by David De Gea and Ashley Fletcher, a United academy graduate, pounced.

But a second goal just after a starting whistle decided the tie. Mkhitaryan was freed up by a marvelous Antonio Valencia backheel. The Armenian cut the ball back for the wide-open Martial, who scored.

Just after the hour. A combination between Valencia, Ander Herrera and Zlatan got the ball back to Valencia on a ball that unlocked the defense. A cross swung out to Martial set up his second goal.

In the final seconds of injury time, Herrera reached the back line in an attack that Schweinsteiger and Rooney had a big hand in. He found Zlatan for the wide-open finish.

Correlation is not causation, of course. You certainly can’t jump to the conclusion that United cruising into the semifinals was caused by the manager’s touchline ban. Mkhitaryan was penciled into the lineup by Mourinho. And Schweinsteiger wouldn’t have seen the field without his manager’s blessing.

It was noteworthy, though.

As noteworthy as a simple United victory is rare these days.

Leander Schaerlaeckens is a soccer columnist for Yahoo Sports. Follow him on Twitter @LeanderAlphabet.