Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho insists his side did not deserve to lose their Europa League opener at Feyenoord.
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Smalling and his Manchester United teammates, could not help United bounce back from their derby defeat against city rivals Manchester City, and lost their second consecutive game. “The last two games we’ve played, we haven’t made the best of starts especially in the first half, and we need to change that”, Shaw told United’s official website.
Red Devils boss Mourinho admitted his players are now lacking confidence – despite starting the season with four consecutive wins across the Community Shield and Premier League.
Mourinho is expected to return several first-choice players to his side for Sunday’s game, including captain Wayne Rooney, who was rested for the club’s trip to the Netherlands.
The France global was a peripheral figure in the first half as he epitomised a lack of urgency and intensity from the visitors.
Speaking in an interview with United’s website, Mourinho said: “I don’t think it will be easy [to bounce back] but the game will be independent”.
“I said, yes, it’s a very good start, but I was never on the moon”.
“When you lose matches, there are no miracles in terms of the players’ soul”. We felt like they were collapsing a bit physically, they were in trouble and it was that moment in which we lost the game.
United who had started off their campaign by winning the Community Shield against Leicester City and their first three Premier League matches, tasted defeat for the first time this season against Manchester City.
“I had two or three players in the first half that, if I know what is going to happen, I don’t play them”.
But United were unable to muster a performance of worth, yet Mourinho was more intent on pointing the blame at the officials.
‘The only thing I can say is that I am a team player.
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Feyenoord were tidy and assured, and their build-up play was good at times, but they were largely toothless in attack and even a below-par United should be dispatching teams such as this. “Double unlucky because he [Jorgensen] was offside”.
