Jose abhorred at lackluster United
HUDDERSFIELD, England — Jose Mourinho laid into his Manchester United players following their shock 2-1 Premier League defeat at Huddersfield Town on Saturday.
United was beaten for the first time this season, while the newly promoted Terriers earned a first top-flight victory over its illustrious visitor since 1952.
Huddersfield’s goals, scored by Aaron Mooy and Laurent Depoitre, resulted from calamitous errors by United’s Juan Mata and summer signing Victor Lindelof.
Former Benfica centerback Lindelof’s mistake was particularly poor, with the Swede — on as a substitute for the injured Phil Jones for just his second Premier League appearance — badly misjudging a goal kick to allow Depoitre to capitalize and score.
“In the first half I was waiting for it,” said United boss Mourinho, whose side replied through Marcus Rashford.
“It was Mata and Victor, but it could have been another because the attitude was really poor.
“When I lose matches, I like to lose because the opponent was better, had more quality. When you lose because of attitude, that is really bad.
“I heard (United midfielder) Ander Herrera in an interview saying the attitude and desire was poor. Oh my God.
“When a player says that and a player feels that, I think they should then all go to the press conference and explain why, because I cannot explain that.”
Mourinho’s team had only conceded two league goals, in a 2-2 draw at Stoke City in early September, before Saturday’s visit to John Smith’s Stadium.
But the United manager was more concerned by United’s lack of fight.
“I don’t even remember a friendly match where our attitude was so poor,” he said.
“Of course it concerns me, yes, because if it happened today, why can’t it happen tomorrow?
“It was a surprise, but it is reality. It was a surprise, yes, but it happened. For me it is quite easy and simple to say the team that deserved to win won.
“They played like I like. They played with everything they have, like I like and like it has to be. They played with everything: aggression, desire, motivation, sacrifice.
“So the team that deserved to win won. Simple.”
United visits Swansea City in the League Cup on Wednesday before hosting Tottenham Hotspur and visiting Chelsea in the league.
Having seen its 12-game unbeaten run come to an end, Mourinho said he couldn’t guarantee United would immediately bounce back.
“I don’t like to anticipate the reactions because I don’t know how to say in this moment,” he said.
“We come here to play a Premier League match, to play for three points.
“I feel really disappointed and if I was a Manchester United supporter — not a manager, but a traditional supporter — I would be really disappointed.
“Because I think you can play and lose a football match because the opponent had more quality than you, but you cannot lose because the opponent had a better attitude than you.”
Terriers boss David Wagner, who steered the Yorkshire club back to the top flight for the first time in nearly half a century last term, ranked the win among his “top three” days in charge.
“I live in Huddersfield, so I know a little bit — maybe not 100 percent — how huge this result is,” said the 46-year-old German.
“For the town, for the Huddersfield Town supporters, for the chairman, for the board, for everybody who supports the football club, I’m totally aware that this is a very special moment and a huge result.
“Little Huddersfield Town, in the Premier League for the first time, in the top flight for the first time in 45 years, has now beaten Man United.
“I’m aware of it, happy and proud about it. But, like always, we will stay humble.”