The sight of Jose Mourinho snapping at Manchester United’s press officer on the way to meeting the written media following the 3-1 defeat at Watford exposed the obvious tension he is already feeling just a few months into his reign at Old Trafford.
Advertisement
On the red side, Jose Mourinho is discovering the toils David Moyes and Louis van Gaal endured trying to live up to Alex Ferguson’s high achievements during his 26-year reign at United.
Watford’s Etienne Capoue celebrates after scoring a goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Watford and Manchester United at Vicarage Road in London, Sunday Sept. 18, 2016. It is the first time in 14 years that Mourinho has lost three games in a row.
Five games into the new Premier League campaign and United now sit seventh in the table, already six points off fierce rivals and standings leaders Manchester City. The world’s most expensive player, the £89m Pogba was used in a deep midfield role alongside Marouane Fellaini but other than hitting the bar in the first-half the Frenchman contributed little.
The article in The Times goes on to say that members of the United squad were shocked at the treatment of the player – who was substituted shortly after Watford’s second goal.
He said: “We have to improve, no doubt, individually and collectively. We haven’t even played 10 games yet, but we absolutely have to win”.
‘This is a tactical but also a mentalattitude, ‘ said Mourinho, who had not suffered three successive competitive defeats since his days as manager of Porto in 2002. However, it was precisely in that good moment that they scored again and since then until the final whistle they were in better control of the situation, and we lost the three points.
He thought Anthony Martial was fouled in the lead-up to Watford’s first goal. “We had nearly agreed with another Premier League club, but Dortmund wouldn’t let him go; then United pushed it over the line”.
“The beginning was bad but in the second half we improved a lot and were very close to winning”.
Advertisement
James Tomkins’ header in the 9th minute, followed by a goal from fellow defender Scott Dann two minutes later, allowed the hosts to take control of the match early on. “We got back into the game at 1-1 but then we gave away the second goal by giving them too much space and not pressing the ball”. I don’t know why I just know I had to change.
