Luke Shaw admits Manchester United can not afford another slow start if they are to prevent their run of back-to-back defeats getting any worse at Watford.
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Watford’s confidence is likely building after they recovered from going two goals down at West Ham to secure their first win of the season, but they remain without the injured Stefano Okaka.
Mourinho once branded Mazzarri a “donkey” when they were bitter rivals in Italian football, and the fiery ex-Napoli coach returned serve by accusing the great pouting narcissist of talking “rubbish”.
“I think on Sunday character needs to shine through because it’s unacceptable to lose three games in a row”.
With the critics sharpening their knives, Mourinho insists losing to a strong City side and suffering a narrow loss with a much-changed team against Feyenoord is no reason for panic among the United faithful.
“The second half was when they increased intensity and that was when they conceded the goal”.
United lost at home to City in the Manchester derby last Saturday and subsequently left the Netherlands empty-handed following a 0-1 defeat to Feyenoord Rotterdam in the Europa League group stage contest on Thursday. In life, there are some episodes and moments you would prefer to forget, but with time we have got to know each other.
He added: “I think Man United has to show every game, every game, every competition”.
“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”.
The Hornets boss said: “I have a very good relationship with Mourinho”. We need to focus on ourselves and how we start.
Both losses were slender and could have been avoided were it not for ineffective first-half displays – something Shaw says cannot be repeated when they return to domestic action at Watford.
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“The motivation belongs to themselves so I believe in that, I believe that on Sunday they will try to win the match, try to give absolutely everything and it will be just by them to try to help”.
