Hard work has to be put in by Reds

Date published: 19 September 2016


JOSE Mourinho concedes he has work to do to stop the individual errors he believes are costing Manchester United.

The Red Devils slipped to their third defeat in a week as Watford ran out deserving 3-1 winners in their Premier League meeting at Vicarage Road yesterday.

Etienne Capoue put the Hornets ahead with his fourth of the season before Marcus Rashford equalised for United - only for substitute Camilo Zuniga to re-establish Watford's lead before captain Troy Deeney tucked away an injury-time penalty.

The result, coupled with derby defeat to Manchester City last weekend and Thursday night's Europa League loss to Feyenoord, means Mourinho has lost three successive games for the first time in over a decade.

And he knows he still has plenty to do to turn things around at Old Trafford, despite what was a promising start to his first season at the helm.

Asked if United's drop in form was worrying, Mourinho said: "My feeling is that it is not because we started the season very well with (winning) the Community Shield and three victories in a row in the Premier League.


"(That is) the best start that a new manager has had at Manchester United I think. But was I thinking that my team was ready, perfect, unbeatable? Not at all.

"I was completely aware that we were not perfect, with lots of players who are not end products and can make their own mistakes...I feel that some individuals probably feel the pressure and responsibility too much."

Luke Shaw was singled out by Mourinho, who was unhappy with the England international's positioning for Zuniga's strike, with the Portuguese admitting it is up to him to drill his approach into his squad.

"Their second goal is a mistake that goes against our plan and our training, because our intention was for their wing-backs to be pressed and not let them progress," he said.

(Nordin) Amrabat receives the ball and our left-back (Shaw) is 25 metres from him instead of five. Even at 25 you have to jump and go and press but no, we wait.

"This is a tactical but also a mental attitude. It doesn't become perfect in a few weeks. So we must improve, individually and collectively. That's my job."