Friday, 16 September 2016

Jose Mourinho admits Manchester United players are low on confidence after Europa League setback

The Red Devils have now lost back-to-back games and Mourinho insists they will take some picking up before Watford on Sunday

Jose Mourinho admitted Manchester United's confidence is at rock-bottom after they slumped to a second straight defeat.
Mourinho's side produced an abject display to lose their Europa League opener , the first time in United's history they have lost four away games in Europe.
And Mourinho , whose side went into the game on the back of defeat to Manchester City in the derby, conceded he has a huge task to pick his players up for Sunday's Premier League clash at Watford.
"When you lose matches, there are no miracles in terms of the players' soul,” said Mourinho.
Getty Images Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Manchester United and his team-mates look dejected during the UEFA Europa League Group A match between Feyenoord and Manchester United at Feijenoord Stadion on September 15, 2016 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Manchester United's players show their dejection
Action Images via Reuters / Matthew Childs Manchester United's Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba reacts during the defeat
Reuters / Michael Kooren General view of the scoreboard at the end of the match
A view of the scoreboard at full-time
“You win matches, people are happy and full of confidence. You lose matches and people are sad and feel it.
“Obviously, when you lose matches, the mood is not the same, that's normal.
“That's the normal nature of football players, but I'm here not to let them be in a negative mood or in a negative period because we lost two matches in four days.
2016 Getty Images
Mourinho gestures to his players

“I know we play midday on Sunday and in his moment it's 9pm on Thursday, but we are professionals, let's not make an excuse for Sunday because we have to play this game.
“The players are professional, they have to be fit and they have to be mentally strong to play again.
REUTERS
Tonny Vilhena tries his luck
Action Images via Reuters / Matthew Childs Feyenoord's Tonny Vilhena celebrates scoring their first goal with team mates
Feyenoord celebrate their winner

“I think in the first-half we didn't have an especially ambitious attitude. I'm not saying bad, but now with the ambition you need to win football matches.
“You can say I changed eight players. Okay, I changed eight players, but I played with a good team and enough good players to win the match.”
A 79th-minute goal from Tonny Vilhena condemned United to defeat in the Group A tie, but Mourinho said he had not been fooled by his side's impressive start to the season and conceded he has a big job on his hands.
“When we won the Community Shield and the first three Premier League matches, I wasn't on the moon,” said Mourinho.
“I wasn't saying we were a phenomenal team and we're going to destroy every opponent. I said, yes, it's a good start, but I was never on the moon.

“I know the situation is not a case of clicking your fingers and everything is perfect.
“To be honest, we didn't play phenomenal matches in these two defeats, but to lose both I think is a punishment for the team because I think we deserved more.”

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