He pointed the finger at the players.
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The result moved Watford to within two points and two positions of seventh-placed United, who appear to lack the solidity normally associated with Mourinho’s teams.
George spoke to us after Watford 3-1 Manchester United and thinks the way we are using Wayne Rooney is a detriment to Paul Pogba’s game, is he right? “It’s an obvious situation, like last week against Manchester City, but it’s something I can not control or be critical with”, said Mourinho after the match. We know the midfielders arrive like the first goal from behind so there is another individual mistake. “Then we had another individual mistake in not taking care of the midfielder”.
United are already lagging six points behind rivals and Premier League leaders Manchester City and the feel-good factor following the three wins that marked the start of the Mourinho era has been completely erased. We have to be there and we have to work, but they have to show themselves a certain attitude towards the negative moments. The Hornets buzzed and United were stung. Marcus Rashford – goalscorer again on his first league start under Mourinho – led the way.
Pogba, who returned to Old Trafford from Juventus in the summer, continued to look far from being the most expensive player in the world.
United could have won the game after that, Heurelho Gomes repelling Ibrahimovic’s header with a flying save that earned a standing ovation from Vicarage Road.
Having guided his side to their first Premier League win of the season at West Ham last weekend, this was Walter Mazzarri’s first home victory as Watford boss after losing to Chelsea and Arsenal.
Playing like this, they can look towards the top half of the table, not a relegation fight. It came from a speculative punt towards the area from Sebastian Prodl, which David De Gea fumbled after colliding with Chris Smalling.
It was the first time Watford had beaten United since 1986.
But that’s what happened, after Ibrahimovic’s header was kept out of the net by Gomes.
Daryl Janmaat picked up the ball and crossed for Capoue to fire his fourth goal of the season.
Foul, cried Mourinho. And maybe so once the replays were scrutinised, but it was not an obvious call. “That’s an obvious situation”, said Mourinho.
The French global appeared groggy and held his ankle, then his head after Britos’s tackle, before forlornly being helped off and replaced.
For now, every small positive – like that close-range Rashford finish and the ensuing spell of pressure – still feels like salve for a wound that needs major surgery.
Troy Deeney’s stoppage-time penalty rubbed salted into United’s wounds, but it was United left-back Luke Shaw’s failure to stop Watford’s second that most frustrated Mourinho. There was wave after wave of attack, but little threat. The substitute striker also got the south-coast club’s Europa League campaign off to a bright start on Thursday by netting twice against Sparta Prague. It was the Colombian’s first touch – he had only been on the pitch 53 seconds.
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Valencia was usually picking up the ball and running from deep so it meant that the Watford left-back, Jose Holebas, had time to get over and cover.
