Mourinho fears United succumbing to pressure after 3rd loss

After winning their opening three league fixtures under their new manager, Manchester United’s defeat at Watford on Sunday – their third loss in eight days – leaves them six points adrift of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

United boss Mourinho, who has now suffered three consecutive defeats for the first time since managing Porto in 2002, said: “I knew I had a task”.

The United job was a chance for Mourinho to rehabilitate his career after being fired past year for a second time by Chelsea.

Mourinho beat Leicester City to clinch the FA Community Shield in pre-season, but defeats to Manchester City, Feyenoord and Watford have now turned a promising start to the 2016-17 season on its head.

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.

Hornets substitute Juan Zuniga scored with seven minutes to go before Troy Deeney sealed the win with an injury-time penalty. “[Heurelho] Gomes makes a phenomenal save and that’s all”. “I promise I don’t know”.

Of Shaw’s performance, Mourinho said: ‘You can find incredible similarity between the first Manchester City goal and the second goal against Watford.

But referee Michael Oliver was also blasted by Mourinho for not giving a free-kick for the challenge on Martial in the build-up to Capoue’s goal.

“Yes, Manchester United had no Champions League and were not champions but they needed us the most”. We were showing complete control, intensity, creation.

The 41-year-old explained that United are lacking creativity at the middle of the park and has stated that Carrick would be the ideal candidate to provide the spark instead of midfield hard man Fellaini.

Zuniga was then brought down by Marouane Fellaini inside the area late on to allow Deeney to score from the spot. “That’s my job because lady luck and referees’ mistakes you don’t control – I can’t do nothing [to stop them]”.

Rooney was at the centre of the blame game following the shock result to Watford, but will Jose Mourinho see it fit to remove him from the starting lineup?

“Yes, it (the mood) is low, but we are men and we must stand up together and show ourselves”, the Belgium global told MUTV. “We are the favourites in this game and we have to deliver, with all due respect to the opponent because, despite being in League One, Northampton Town has already knocked out a Premier League side like West Brom”, he said.