A defeat for Manchester United against Watford on Sunday saw Jose Mourinho lose three games in a row in the same season for the first time in 14 years, as tensions build up among the Old Trafford faithful.
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After a promising start to the season, including victory at Wembley in the FA Community Shield, United’s woes began with defeat to city rival and EPL leader Manchester City last weekend.
Specifically, he is concerned about the fragile way his players respond to adversity and the defence’s habit of making careless mistakes when they don’t adhere to his instructions.
“In the second half we were much better, we get the draw [equalised] and after that we were the team and [Watford goalkeeper Heurelho] Gomes makes a phenomenal save and luck is again something we can not control”.
“But was I thinking that my team was ready, perfect, unbeatable?”
When asked directly about the defeat, Mourinho added: “I reflect on three factors from the match, but only one of them I can improve. So we were punished by these mistakes and I can’t do anything about it”. I know Wenger likes Pogba but the price Juventus set for him doesn’t fit his philosophy. This is a tactical but also a mental attitude.
“We have been improving a lot”. Although Marcus Rashford eventually equalised, Watford went on to win through a goal from substitute Camilo Zuniga and then a Troy Deeney penalty.
“But, in one completely isolated counter-attack – I don’t remember David de Gea touching the ball in the second half – they scored a goal”.
“We gave him the space to progress, then the one against one is inside the box and when it is in the box you are not confident enough to tackle”.
“I knew that because the first Man City goal and this second goal you can find an incredible similarity – which is [Aleksandar] Kolarov has the ball in a hard situation in the corner and my players instead of “go up and press” they decide to give space”. It’s something that doesn’t become ideal in a couple of weeks.
“The only thing we can control is our individual mistakes and our collective mistakes”.
But Watford’s relentlessly physical approach was wearing United down and Anthony Martial needed several minutes treatment after being pole-axed by a clash of heads with Daryl Janmaat. “I think he’s trying to do too much on the ball”, Scholes told BT Sport. It’s not a record Mourinho will be proud of and they will be some doubts as to his managerial mettle.
Charlie Austin proved his point by climbing off the bench to secure Southampton’s first Premier League win of the season as they edged out Swansea at St Mary’s Stadium.
“I’m pleased for my players”.
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“I am very happy about this. It means my work is having an impact”, he said. “We didn’t go under, we came again and ended up winning the game 3-1”. We prepared the game very well.
