The Warm-Up: Jose's alternative facts, Messi's magic night

We live in a world of profound and nefarious misinformation. The epidemic of fake news which started with spoof sites on the internet has contributed to the election of a president who threatens to tear down the global order.

Even a week after his inauguration, Donald Trump is still trying to tell anyone who will listen that in fact, counter to any available evidence, his swearing-in was the biggest in American history - “it was yuge, believe me” - in the process wheeling out his lackey Kellyanne Conway to introduce the intriguing philosophical construct of “alternative facts”.

Well, it seems someone was paying attention, as Jose Mourinho came armed with some alternative facts of his own after Manchester United lost 2-1 to Hull City, but progressed anyway to the final of the League Cup to face Southampton.

“We didn't lose,” said Mourinho, as Rui Faria started prepping for his own post-match interview, live with Sean Hannity on Fox News. “It was 1-1. I only saw two goals. I saw a Pogba goal and their goal, a fantastic goal. It was 1-1, we are still unbeaten. I think 18 matches unbeaten is amazing.”

And the proverbial huge gaps in the crowd stretching all the way back to the Washington Monument? Marcos Rojo’s tug on Harry Maguire’s shirt which gave away a penalty.

As he contemplated returning to the final of the competition which launched his Chelsea career, notionally a happy occasion, Mourinho also found time for a message for Crooked Arsene.

Despite his evident frustration in the throes of defeat, Mourinho was a more contented figure on the bus ride back from Hull as he was presented with a cake (and a nice bottle of red, probably straight out of Fergie’s cellar) to mark his 54th birthday. Phil Neville, of all people, was on hand to record the moment for posterity.

As the wine slipped down his gullet, Mourinho would have felt a nice warm buzz encasing him. You know, who cares about Arsene Wenger’s touchline behaviour when you are Making Manchester United Great Again? That buzz will have lasted until he took his iPad out of its Louis Vuitton case and started browsing his Times app, chuckling to himself as he checked out what the losers in the media had to say.

Because what did he see front and centre on the sports page but a story claiming Anthony Martial, left out of the squad entirely for the past two matches, is “deeply frustrated” and “upset with criticism” from his manager.

We all know how this ends. Anthony, it was good while it lasted.

Reports last night said Robert Snodgrass was set for talks with West Ham after Hull City accepted an offer of £10 million for the Scotland international, who despite his team’s struggles has managed to accumulate seven goals and three assists this season.

It’s a far more respectable amount than the £3m they initially offered, and more than the £7.5m up front fee tabled by both Burnley and Middlesbrough. Still, £10m won’t seem like much when Hull are working out how much a lack of top-flight football will cost them next season.

Manchester United supporters aired a new chant last night in Hull and they were quite keen for you to know about it.

Losing to Hull in the League Cup doesn’t exactly fire memories of Fergie’s pinnacle achievements, not when United are sixth in the league as well, but The Warm-Up understands the sentiment when you’ve had David Moyes and Louis van Gaal to contend with.

As well as Manchester United, there was cup success last night for Barcelona, who reached the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey for the seventh successive season courtesy of a 5-2 win over Real Sociedad which gave the Catalans a 6-2 win on aggregate.

Lionel Messi scored, of course. Oh, and he had a hand in the other four. He’s now the best playmaker in the world as well as being the best forward, in case you hadn’t noticed yet.

Great, thanks guys. Way to ruin the weekend.

Going viral on Twitter yesterday was this interview with a Liverpool fan following the League Cup exit at the hands of Southampton. Credit to Redmen TV for the footage.

“It’s a sign of the times, not just at Liverpool but modern footy in general… I just think, ‘where has the club gone?’” It’s a quite touching lament, with some choice words thrown in, for a time when clubs, supporters and communities were still entwined. Claude and Ty on Arsenal Fan TV this is not.

The fourth round of the FA Cup gets underway as Leicester travel to Derby. Plus there's Osasuna v Malaga on Sky Sports 1, Schalke v Eintracht Frankfurt on BT Sport 3 and Aberdeen v Dundee on BT Sport 1. Yeah, you're going out, aren't you?