More woes for Mourinho as Watford stun United

Mourinho’s side were rocked by Etienne Capoue’s first half opener and, although Marcus Rashford equalised after the break, United capitulated in the closing stages.

Juan Camilo Zuniga restored Watford’s lead with seven minutes left before Troy Deeney’s penalty condemned Mourinho to a third consecutive defeat for the first time since he was in charge at Porto in 2002.

It was the first time United had lost three in a row since the unlamented Louis van Gaal presided over four successive defeats in December last year.

Adding to the indignity for United, it was their first loss in 30 years against Watford, who ended a run of 11 successive defeats against the Manchester giants.

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United are already lagging six points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City and the feelgood factor following the three wins that marked the start of the Mourinho era has been completely erased.

After losing to City, Feyenoord in the Europa League and now Watford over the last week, the size of the task facing Mourinho as he rebuilds United has been laid bare.

“I feel the first moment we had a defeat, a difficult situation, some of the boys are having a bit of difficulty coping with the negativity,” Mourinho said.

Speaking about Capoue’s goal, Mourinho told BT Sport: ‘I think no debate, I think no controversy. I think that is an obvious situation…but it’s something that I cannot control and I cannot even be critical.

‘I think in the first half for about 25, 30 minutes we didn’t play well and that’s something we can control, we can improve, we can work on it. The referee’s and the linesman’s mistake is not under my control. I can’t do anything to improve it.

‘In the second half we were much better, we get the draw (equalised) and after that we were the team and (Watford goalkeeper Heurelho) Gomes makes a phenomenal save and luck is again something we cannot control. We cannot control the referee, we cannot control the lucky moments.

‘The only thing we can control is our individual mistakes and our collective mistakes. Their second goal for example is a mistake because we know we have to press the wing-backs outside the box and not let them take advantage of being one against one in the box.

 

 

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