Jose Mourinho explains the three reasons behind Manchester United 3-1 defeat to Watford

Jose Mourinho believes that a mix of individual mistakes, bad luck and referee errors led Manchester United to a disappointed 3-1 defeat at Watford on Sunday (18 September). Yet, the Portuguese boss claimed that there was a clear foul by Miguel Britos on Anthony Martial in the build-up of Etienne Capoue's opening goal.

The former Tottenham midfielder put Watford ahead in the first-half with his fourth goal in five Premier League games. Marcus Rashford gave some hope to United in the second part after netting the equaliser for his side. However, two late goals from Camilo Zuñiga and Troy Deeney inflicted the Red Devils a third consecutive shock in a week, having also loss to Manchester City last weekend before a midweek defeat to Feyenoord in the Europa League.

"I reflect on three factors from the match, but only one of them I can improve," Mourinho said to BBC after the game. "The first factor depends on ourselves, it relates to our individual mistakes and collective mistakes as individual players and as a team. We have to improve something, it is in our hands.

"The second factor is the referee and I can't control their mistakes. The story of the game is the result and not the ridiculous situation of the first goal. The third factor is luck, we didn't have it. We were the best team when we lost. Heurelho Gomes made a phenomenal save from a Zlatan Ibrahimovic header."

The former United boss admits that his side needs to improve ahead of the coming games but believes that once again his side were punished by the referee decision, as the official failed to award them a free-kick in the lead up to Capoue's opener.

"That's an obvious situation. I think there is no debate, no controversy. I think that is an obvious situation, like it was obvious last week against Man City but it's something I don't control and I cannot even be critical of," the United boss added later in the press conference. "In the eyes of everyone, it doesn't matter whether you're a Manchester United fan or a Watford fan or whatever, it was obvious."