MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER Jose Mourinho said his side ought to have been “smoking cigars” after they made hard work of an eventual 4-2 win away to Watford on Tuesday.
But the Portuguese boss said his side had “lost stability” when midfielder Nemanja Matic went off early in the second half with a “muscular” injury.
United were 3-0 up before half-time at a freezing Vicarage Road thanks to Ashley Young’s double and a goal from Anthony Martial.
But after the break the Hornets struck twice through substitute Troy Deeney’s penalty and Abdoulaye Doucoure before United’s Jesse Lingard finally put the result beyond doubt four minutes from time.
United’s victory came after two successive away defeats and left Mourinho’s second-placed side five points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City, who are at home to Southampton on Wednesday.
But there was no hiding Mourinho’s frustration when he said: “The second half should have been five or 6-0, it was easier to score than the first.
It was an easy match to win comfortably. At 3-2 the game is in the balance then Jesse Lingard had the initiative to kill the game.
“Both him and Ashley Young scored great goals. We missed 4-0 with some actions and Romelu Lukaku had an open goal, Paul Pogba had a free header too…We should be smoking cigars but then were in trouble.”
Mourinho said Matic’s exit had helped turned what look like a comfortable win into a tougher battle.
“We lost stability when Nemanja Matic had to come out but the important thing is the three points,” the former Chelsea manager explained. “I saw happiness from the team and played with a free mind.
Last season I learned what Ashley Young can be, he gives stability in his performances and this season he is playing more regularly.
“He has the spirit and experience we need, today he also had the talent to score two beautiful goals.”
Mourinho added: “For Matic to tell me he wants to be replaced, he does not do that if it is nothing important. It is muscular.”
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Lingaard,pogba, Fellaini and lukaku.
Richard Dunne, for that night in Russia.
Andrea Pirlo, for making the beautiful game beautiful.
Dimitar Berbatov, for that touch.
Lionel Messi, for being the sum of everything good about football.
Paul McGrath, Roy Keane, Richard Dunne and Dennis Irwin
@David O Brien: I’d swap Richard Dunne for Eric Cantona, but the rest 100%
Van baston, baggio ,hagi ,maradona
Cr7, Rooney, keane, demba ba
Roy Keane, Clarence seedorf, Jay Jay okocha, Lionel Messi
Paul McGrath, Van Basten, Denis Bergkamp and Messi
My first hero was mark hughes. Then lee sharpe. Prob giggs and cantona after that.
Tony Adams, David Rocastle, Denis Bergkamp, Mark Lawrenson – still the most underrated Irish player of that era.
C Ronaldo , Roy Keane , henrik Larson and bobo balde !
Giggs, Del Piero, Totti, Roy Keane
First and foremost DIEGO MARADONA!!!! He was the one i dreamed about being as a kid. Jurgen Klinsman, Dennis Bergkamp and Zidane. I was lucky enough to be in Hampden Park in 2002 for the champions league final between Real and Leverkusen when Zidane scored “that goal”. Every fan in the stadium applauded that goal regardless of who they were supporting.
Roy Keane, beckham, ronaldinho and zidane
Puskas.
Eusebio.
Maradona.
Pele.
@Robb Stark: The fact that you’re apparently old enough to have witnessed those footballers but immature enough to act the way you do on this website is astonishing.
@Stephen Lyons: what would you know about football?
George best , Paul Mc Grath , Denis law , Jimmy Johnson .all in the same team .
@Tricksy: throw in Neville southall in goals , two wide players , one forward and one defender , perfect four a side team .
Paul McGrath, Eric Cantina, Roy Keane & Patsy Freyne
Gianfranco Zola
Jamie Redknapp was my first footballing hero.
@Ciarán Seosamh: Jaysus
@David O Brien: your goalie of choice I presume? #jesussaves
Gerrard,Torres- both gave me the best memories in such a bleak period as a Liverpool fan.
Messi- although regressed slightly with age he represents everything that makes me love the sport. Hope people never forget the level he was at a few years ago. There have been amazing players but he is out on his own ahead of them all.
Ronaldo (Brazil) Michael Owen- as above with Torres it didn’t end well at Liverpool. However Ronaldo and Owen are who I used to pretend to be in the back garden. The most natural finishers I have seen .
Daglaish Gerrard maradona and messi
Ronaldinho,
Samuel Eto’o,
Carles Puyol,
Lionel Messi
Roy Keane, Cantona, Messi, Zidane
Paul McGrath, Gary Speed, Maradona, Bergkamp
Paul McGrath, Ronaldo (Brazil), Maldini, Bonner (Italia 90) and Gary Kelly (lived around the corner from me and was the pride of our town for going to the world cup).
Eric Cantona for the Kung foo kick
Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, Paul McGrath, Alan Shearer
Maradona, Gavin Peacock, Andy Townsend and Jean Pierre Pappan
Ronald Koeman, David Batty, Garry Speed and Mel Sterland!
Paul McGrath Steven Gerrard Diego Maradona Marco van basten
Maradona
Van Basten
Keane, Stoichkov, Thuram, Solsksjaer, Irwin.
Van Basten
Patrick Kluivert, Allesandro Del Piero, David Trezeguet, Oliver Bierhoff.
Zidane
Bergkamp
Messi
Ronaldinho
VanBasten,
Maradona
Maradona, Guilit, Roy Keane, Messi
Zinedine Zidane, Roy Keane, Ronaldinho and Wayne Rooney
Fernando Redondo
Ronaldo (Brazilian)
Shaun Goater
Kevin Keegan
@The Great Cornholio: Redondo was some player. Funny how the role of the defensive midfielder has changed to more of a defensive anchor man such as kante , makelele, masherano. Alot of the game used to be controlled by the defensive midfielder and they were given more freedom if you like.(viera, davids, petit,Keane were great box to box defensive midfielders and in later years players such as Alonso and pirlo have controlled the game)
Roy Keane, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho, Ryan Giggs
Conor Sammon
Ronaldo Roy keane zindane and Richard dunne
Maradona
VanBasten
Dessie (El Moustachio) Kennedy – home and away goals v Real Madrid
Ossie Ardiles
Denis Irwin
Harry Kane
Messi, Best, Giles and Keano
Paul McGrath, Pat Jennings, Socrates, Diego Maradona
Lampard, Drogba, duff and Robbie Keane
VanBasten
Maradona
Johney Brookes, David Pugh, Tony Fagan and Paul McGee
McGrath, Sheedy, R Baggio, Ronaldo (Bra)
Neymar , Januzai, Lingard , Pogba
Xavi, Bergkamp, C.Ronaldo, Ronaldinho
Diego Maradona
Kenny Dalglish
Paul McGrath
Davy Langan
Maradona
Baggio, McManaman, Fowler, Ronaldo (Brazilian), Zidane, Messi.
Giggs, rooney,keane,Scholes
Best..Cruyff..Maradona..Pele…..the 4 greatest players of all time!!!(in alphabetical order)
What’s up family
Paul McGrath,pat byrne rovers,maradona,Steve Staunton.
Ronaldo (Bra), Scholes, Zidane, Merson
Hagi, Georgi kinkladze, Robbie Keane, Ronaldinho
Batistuta, Ronaldo (Brazilian), Solskjær, Messi