Watford’s Jose Holebas (left) and Etienne Capoue (right) vie with Manchester United’s Paul Pogba (center) during their English Premier League match in Watford on Sunday.
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Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has blamed bad luck and bad officiating for his side’s loss to Watford.
After winning the first three games of the Mourinho era, United are stuck in a rut and looked painfully short of inspiration in their first defeat against Watford for 30 years.
The United job was a chance for Mourinho to rehabilitate his career after being fired previous year for a second time by Chelsea.
But defeat by neighbours Manchester City at Old Trafford last weekend was followed by a disappointing Europa League loss at Feyenoord on Thursday.
Mourinho’s side improved after halftime and equalized through teenage striker Marcus Rashford, but conceded late goals to Camilo Zuniga and a Troy Deeney penalty as an excellent Watford side made off with all three points.
The Red Devils deservedly lost against an inspired Watford who put 3 past David De Gea. Individually, collectively, we have to improve.
In Saturday’s late game, Everton earned a fourth straight win after coming from behind at Goodison Park to beat Middlesbrough 3-1 and climb to second – two points behind Manchester City – as Gareth Barry marked his 600th league appearance with a goal.
Mourinho made five changes to his starting line-up from the trip to the Netherlands, with Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic restored to the side.
“We played very well, even against Arsenal and Chelsea here at home, but we were more unlucky than today”.
“And third is my hands, improving the team and individuals, trying to stop defensive mistakes”.
Tottenham Hotspur went third after beating Sunderland 1-0 with a goal from Harry Kane, who later limped off.
“I feel that some individuals probably feel that pressure and responsibility too much”. 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 knew I had a task”.
Mourinho was also unhappy referee Michael Oliver failed to blow for a foul on Anthony Martial – who had to go off injured – in the build-up to Watford’s first goal. We were showing complete control, intensity, creation.
“The first factor depends on ourselves, it relates to our individual mistakes and collective mistakes as individual players and as a team”.
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New Premier League rules introduced at the start of the 2014-15 season stress that any player suffering from a head injury must leave the field, with the club doctor then making the decision of whether that player can continue.
