Manchester United were lacklustre going forward, but Mourinho insisted his side did not deserve to lose as the visitors suffered their second defeat in five days.
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United have lost two games in a week. “It is a new event, it is another match, it starts at minute zero and so I think it has nothing to do with the two previous matches”, Mourinho said.
“I know the situation is not a case of clicking your fingers and everything is ideal”.
Man United enter this Sunday’s game with Watford in a precarious state. The game represented numerous same faults that occurred against City, especially not being able to start strong from the get-go.
“When you lose matches, there are no miracles in terms of the players’ soul”, he said.
“In the second half they looked a little bit stronger than us, but we are very happy to win”. You lose matches and people are sad and feel it.
Despite having the stated ambition of winning the Premier League title in his first season in charge, he has repeatedly said it will take time for his players to get used to his methods and to change their mindset after two years of risk-averse football under Van Gaal.
Former Caltex Socceroos goalkeeper Brad Jones kept a clean sheet for Dutch club Feyenoord as they stunned Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League on Friday morning (AEST).
Feyenoord, who are now two points clear at the top of the Eredivisie table, will next play second-placed PSV Eindhoven on Sunday in a league fixture.
“They didn’t create too many chances but we didn’t do enough either to win the game”.
Deeney’s header was then superbly kept out by a flying De Gea, while United’s first menacing attack saw Zlatan Ibrahimovic lash a good opening into the side-netting after a cross from Rashford deflected into his path.
Despite the post-match rush, Smalling – skipper in the absence of Wayne Rooney – was more concerned with United’s second defeat on the trot, admitting they lacked “intensity” against the Eredivisie leaders.
“First of all I have players that are not here, I have players that didn’t play here for 90 minutes, so it’s not a problem of accumulation”, he added.
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They were not done there either, with another substitute – Isaac Success – helping Zuniga to win a penalty under Fellaini’s challenge in stoppage-time. In the first half they were in control but were playing half pace.
