The Portuguese coach was appointed as Louis van Gaal’s successor earlier this summer after United finished in a disappointing fourth-place finish last term.
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The midfielder has been in and out of the team this campaign and has not started a Premier League match since United’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth on August 14.
The trio were rested for Thursday’s Europa League tie at Feyenoord, with the latter not risked after complaining of a tight hamstring following the derby defeat to Manchester City.
“They were 2-0 down as well, so to come back and win 4-2, away as well – everyone knows how hard it is to play against West Ham – I am sure they will be in good spirits ahead of the game on Sunday”.
“To be honest, I think we didn’t play phenomenal matches in these two defeats, but in both I think it is a punishment for the team because we deserved more than the results we got”, said Mourinho, who should recall Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic after the forwards were left out of the starting line-up against Feyenoord.
“I think if anything, that’s a good thing”, the centre-back said of the quick turnaround.
Jose Mourinho was frustrated by the result and the fact Nicolai Jorgensen was not called offside in the build-up to Tonny Vilhena’s later victor – something that also irked Smalling, as did the overall display.
“I have made mistakes because I am human and I can do that but what I am not going to do is give up, never”.
“I am not sure how many points they’ve got, but obviously I have seen their result on the weekend”, the England worldwide told MUTV.
“In the second half, I think our urgency was there but we need to start that in the first half”.
There were a handful of late chances but Smalling knows it was too little too late in a match where they were too often outbattled.
This seems on the generous side although Watford have not beaten their opponents since 1986, having lost the last 11 games against them.
“It starts minute zero at 0-0 so I think it has nothing to do with the previous two matches”.
“I think in that first half they won pretty much every second ball and they had aggression and determination far better than ours”.
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Smalling’s auto was eventually rushed to the airport with a police escort, just making it in time to return with the rest of the squad on Thursday evening. “Could not urinate at the doping control”.
