United went down 1-0 – with coach Jose Mourinho fielding a reserve-packed side – on a late goal from Tonny Vilhena, despite a clear offside at the start of the counter-attack.
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Friday’s soccer news update starts with Manchester United losing 1-0 to Feyenoord to open group play in the Europa League.
Looking forward to the Premier League outing at Watford, Mourinho continued: “I don’t think it will be easy [to bounce back] but the game will be independent”.
Despite constant criticism, Fellaini has actually been very good for Manchester United so far this season, and he deserves to start. I know that the situation is not ‘click your fingers and everybody is flawless’.
“When we won the Community Shield and three Premier League matches I was not on the moon saying we are a phenomenal team that will destroy every opponent”.
“But I think we are experienced players and the players are very good guys and I know they want to win and work, so that’s what we have to do”.
“Obviously when you lose matches then the mood and feeling is not the same”. That’s the normal nature of football players.
We don’t have time to dwell on the defeat and we have a few days to recover now.
Southampton made the ideal start to Group K and claimed their first win under new coach Claude Puel as they beat Sparta Prague 3-0 at St Mary’s Stadium. Perhaps that was fool’s gold, but I don’t think United would be willing to give any points back in exchange for lessened expectations.
The re-introduction of Luke Shaw and Antonio Valencia is perhaps the most important change to the side that succumbed to defeat on Thursday. We play midday Sunday, we are professionals, let’s not make an excuse for Sunday because we have to play these games.
“I don’t want to personalise it”.
Red Devils supporters were left stunned as the Dutch giants nabbed a late goal to win at De Kuip – even though it was clearly offside.
“We were trying to push and they were collapsing a little bit because physically they were in trouble and, exactly in that moment, we lose the game”.
It was the first time that the United captain (who needs just four goals to beat Sir Bobby Charlton’s club record of 249 ) has not been on the field this season.
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“It’s nice that he has respect for me, especially because he is one of the best players in Europe”.
