manchester United suffered their third defeat in a week as
late goals from Juan Zuniga and Troy Deeney gave Watford a
deserved Premier League win.
The hosts led when Etienne Capoue converted Daryl
Janmaat's cut-back, only for Marcus Rashford to level from
close range.
Zuniga powered in with seven minutes to go, 53 seconds after
coming on.
And Deeney then scored a penalty in injury time after
Marouane Fellaini fouled Zuniga in the box.
Following a derby defeat by Manchester City last weekend and
the midweek Europa League loss to Feyenoord, Mourinho and
United have had a rough eight days.
It is the first time Mourinho has lost three consecutive games
in a season since February 2002, when he was Porto boss.
But the self-proclaimed "Special One", who has won eight
league titles across Europe and the Champions League twice,
has now lost 11 of his past 21 Premier League games in
charge of Chelsea and Manchester United.
Mourinho made five changes to his starting line-up from the
trip to the Netherlands, with Wayne Rooney and Zlatan
Ibrahimovic restored to the side, but United were disorganised
and ineffective, particularly in the first half.
The United boss looked unhappy with the home side's opening
goal, feeling Anthony Martial was fouled by Miguel Britos, but
he will surely need to look more closely at his own side's
failings as they drifted six points behind league leaders
Manchester City.
Rooney, Ibrahimovic and £89m Paul Pogba all struggled to
make an impact on the game and at the back United failed to
cope with Watford's energetic pressing and the crosses from
wing-backs Janmaat and Jose Holebas.
Pogba, who returned to Old Trafford from Juventus in the
summer, continued to look far from being the most expensive
player in the world, although he was deployed in a deep
midfield role alongside Fellaini that did little to get he best out
of the France international.
He did have United's best effort in the first half, hitting a 25-
yard dipping shot that struck the crossbar.
But his attacking talents were wasted so far away from the
opposition's goal and, after starting the past five games.
Mourinho will have to consider dropping Pogba or changing
his system to accommodate the 23-year-old.
While most of Mourinho's side toiled, the rise of Rashford
continued, as the 18-year-old England striker scored on his
first Premier League start of the season, taking his tally to 10
in 23 games.
He even started the move for his goal, playing a one-two with
Ibrahimovic, whose cross dropped to Rashford's feet for an
easy finish from five yards out.
Hornets boss Walter Mazzarri, who managed Zuniga at
Napoli, leapt for joy when the midfielder applied the finish to
Roberto Pereya's cut-back with his first touch.
Mazzarri had numerous run-ins with Mourinho during their
time in Italy - with former Inter manager Mourinho saying the
Italian was a hard-working "donkey" that would "never
become a thoroughbred".
Mazzarri, who took over at Vicarage Road in the summer,
insisted before the game that he and the Portuguese get on
fine now, but he could not hide his delight when his side went
2-1 up and danced on the side of the pitch.
With numerous chances in the first half, including an open goal
for Odion Ighalo after keeper David de Gea dropped the ball,
Mazzarri's men should have been further ahead at the break,
but scored a thoroughly deserved opener when Martial was
dispossessed and Janmaat teed up Capoue.
Watford looked like their pressing game had taken the energy
out of their performance as United improved in the second
half, but they responded late on for their second win of the
season and first at home.
No comments:
Post a Comment