Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said that his team had played "beautiful, attacking football" in the second half of their 4-1 victory over West Ham United in the EFL Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Mourinho, who was not on the sidelines as he served a one-match ban, watched his team go into the interval level at 1-1 despite dominating the first half.
But they made amends in a more ruthless second-half showing. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Anthony Martial each scored twice for United, meaning that they eased into the semifinals, where they will face Hull City.
Mourinho said: "I wanted to play the kind of football people want because it's the Manchester United tradition so I'm really happy with that.
"I never had a team with so much possession, I never had a team with so much creation, I never had a team with so many chances -- but I never had a team with so many draws. I want this beautiful team to win more matches."
He added on Sky Sports: "The performance is something we are used to. We are playing very well at home. Today was more of the same.
"After the West Ham goal [making the score 1-1 in the 35th minute], we had 10 minutes where we felt it deeply. [It was] West Ham's first shot -- they equalise. But, in the second half, we got the confidence to play and win comfortable and play beautiful, attacking football, which is something that the fans like.
"I told them at half-time, it is not possible to play so well and, because of a goal, stop to play so well. I told them 'forget about the undeserved goal, we are playing so well, we have to keep the confidence' and let's go on with it. Goals plus performance means the real happiness."
Henrikh Mkhitaryan started for the second time since ending his two-month, first-team exile and delivered assists for two of the goals. Mourinho feels that he is getting closer to adapting to English football in the way that the club wants.
The United manager said: "I'm so happy today because today was against a Premier League team, with Premier League qualities, with Premier League characteristics.
"Against Feyenoord, we could think 'OK, it's a different profile of football' but today was against a proper and a typical Premier League team and Mkhi could perform this way.
"So we are really happy because we know the reason why we bought him and we were waiting for his adaptation and it looks like it's coming."
Mourinho said he was watching the game from a "secret" place because of the ban, and he added: "I was in contact with the bench and we worked really well in a way where everybody was prepared. At half-time, I could be with the players in the dressing room. On top of that, I trust my people to pass on the information I need."
Discussing the semifinal draw, with United facing Hull, Mourinho said that they are "not easy matches for us" and thinks the opposition will be inspired by memories of Wembley from their 2014 FA Cup final appearance.
He also praised the depth in his squad, saying that it "hurts me a lot" to have left out the likes of Memphis Depay and Ashley Young.
West Ham's goalscorer was Ashley Fletcher, formerly of United, before leaving in the summer. Manager Slaven Bilic feels he can be an attacking solution for the London club.
Bilic said: "That's why he played today. He deserved it. He showed in preseason that he has got talent. It's great for him that he scored at Old Trafford where he spent so many years. He can be a very important player for us."