Jose Mourinho was unhappy with his Manchester United team and singled out Luke Shaw for criticism after his team's 3-1 Premier League defeat to Watford on Sunday. The left back was held responsible for his role in Camilo Zuniga's second goal which proved to be crucial as the Hornets grabbed all the three points.
“I knew I had a task,” said Mourinho, who has not suffered three successive competitive defeats since his tenure as Porto manager in 2002. He continued, “But the first Man City goal and this second goal, you can find incredible similarity.”
“Kolarov has the ball in a difficult situation in the corner and my player instead of going up and pressing decides to give him space. Today for the second goal, (Nordin) Amrabat on the right side, our left back is 25 metres distance from him, instead of five metres. But even at 25 metres, then you have to jump and go press. But no, we wait.”
“This is a tactical but also a mental attitude. In a couple of weeks, everything like this becomes perfect. That's my job.”
The Special One admitted that he expected a better team performance from the Red Devils after facing consecutive defeats to Manchester City and Feyenoord in the Europa League last week.
Although, Marcus Rashford had equalised for United after the home side dominated the first half, Zuniga’s strike, followed by Troy Deeney netting a penalty ensured Watford's first win over United in three decades.
Also read: Watford captain Troy Deeney not surprised at having beaten Manchester United
The former Chelsea boss also pointed fingers at the refereeing decisions that denied United a penalty against City in the Manchester derby and the offside goal his team conceded against Feyenoord.
He said, “I can't do anything, I can't change that, it's not under my control. But against City, you know what happened minute 55. Today the first goal, Feyenoord you know that goal was in an offside position, we are punished by these mistakes.”
Luke Shaw is back in first team action after featuring in just eight games across all competitions last season due to injury. And after Sunday’s criticism from the Manchester United boss, the former Southampton star will be keen to get back on track along with his other teammates, who are struggling to meet expectations.
The away defeat against Watford now leaves Manchester United on the 7th place and six points behind Pep Guardiola's Manchester City after five games. Manchester United next face Northampton Town on Wednesday in the EFL Cup before hosting Premier League champions Leicester City on Saturday.
