Troy Deeney and Etienne Capoue talk after Watford’s historic 3-1 win against Manchester United at Vicarage Road.
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Watford’s Walter Mazzarri claims he has no problem with Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho despite a series of disagreements in Italy.
United were not at the races for much of the afternoon as Mourinho, who has now tasted defeat in three successive games for the first time in over a decade and for the first time in a single season in England, opted to play a 4-3-3 formation with captain Wayne Rooney again uninspiring in a deeper midfield role.
It was United’s third loss in a row, after being beaten 1-2 by Manchester City in the EPL and 0-1 by Dutch side Feyenoord in Europa League recently.
– It is the first time that Mourinho has lost three competitive games consecutively in a single season since he was at Porto in the 2001-02 campaign. But sometimes there are moments in your favour, which go against you and today our best moment, we were nearly winning the game and we lost.
Watford’s other goals from Juan Zuniga in the 83rd minute and a late Troy Deeney penalty owed more to poor defending after Marcus Rashford had equalised just past the hour mark.
Man United’s best chance of the opening 22 minutes fell to Ibrahimovic after Marcus Rashford found the Swede with a low cross from the right, but the 34-year-old could only find the side netting from a narrowing angle. While United’s neighbor has made a ideal start, Mourinho is discovering just how challenging it will be to restore the team to the Champions League by finishing in the top four.
“I reflect on three factors from the match, but only one of them I can improve”. “But I only have good things to say about the collective”. Odion Ighalo squandered a golden opportunity to open the scoring in the 13th minute after a mix-up between David de Gea and Chris Smalling presented the Watford striker with an open goal, but he somehow slice his shot well wide.
Captain Wayne Rooney had a awful day on the pitch who failed to make any positive contribution towards his team.
Watford: Gomes 9, Cathcart 8, Prödl 9, Britos 8, Janmaat 8, Pereyra 8, Behrami 8, Capoue 9, Holebas 9, Deeney 9, Ighalo 9.
Although the $116 million Frenchman hit the crossbar with one fizzing first-half shot, he was largely outshone in midfield by his compatriot Etienne Capoue, who joined Watford in the summer for $108 million less that United lavished on the former Juventus star. This allowed United to settle, and then equalise, when Rashford scrambled the ball home after his header bounced back to him off a defender after 62 minutes.
They have the players at their disposal to do that, of course.
Manchester United’s Anthony Martial walks off the pitch after he was hurt during the English Premier League soccer match between Watford and Manchester United at Vicarage Road in London.
Premier League concussion guidelines state that “anyone exhibiting symptoms must immediately be removed from playing” and that “there must be no return to play on the day of any suspected concussion”.
Asked whether Martial was concussed, Mourinho responded: “I don’t know. I don’t know why he came off, if he was injured in his ankle, knee, head”, Mourinho said.
Rashford, who was making his first league start for Mourinho, justified his selection.
Watford settled after a hard opening 10 minutes and had a super chance to make the breakthrough when towering centre-back Prodl met a deep free kick at the far post, but his header just dropped wide of David de Gea’s goal. We can not control the referee, we can not control the lucky moments.
“Both games are gone now and we need to look forward”. Youngster and veteran offered hints they could combine profitably and Heurelho Gomes’ brilliant save from Ibrahimovic was a turning point.
– Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) September 18, 2016 Man United lose at Watford for first time in 30 years.
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Watford received an early blow in the second half when Janmaat had to be replaced by Nordin Amrabat after a clash with Pogba.
