Jose Mourinho Discusses Manchester United Confidence After Feyenoord Defeat

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho admitted his team are deflated after losing to Feyenoord in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday and said it is his job to battle against negativity.  

The Red Devils were downed 1-0 by the Eredivisie side to condemn United to their second defeat in five days following the 2-1 Manchester derby loss to Manchester City.

With Watford to face on Sunday in the Premier League, Mourinho conceded his side are at a low ebb but explained it is normal for players to be down after a defeat, per David McDonnell in the Mirror:

"

When you lose matches, there are no miracles in terms of the players' soul. 

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.

"

The Portuguese manager added there would be no excuses for a poor performance against Watford despite the quick turnaround.

After making eight changes for the Feyenoord match, it is likely Mourinho will revert back to a more typical starting XI for the trip to Vicarage Road.

The likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marouane Fellaini started on the bench at Rotterdam's De Kuip stadium, while captain Wayne Rooney did not even travel with the squad—all three have started United's four Premier League games so far this term.

A much-improved performance will be needed against the Hornets if United are to pick up all three points.

Though they arguably did not deserve to lose to Feyenoord—Nicolai Jorgensen appeared offside for Tonny Vilhena's 79th-minute winner—United put in a poor performance, per Samuel Luckhurst in the Manchester Evening News:

The confidence that came from winning their first three games of the season has likely now largely disappeared among players and fans, and Mourinho admitted there is not a quick fix, per McDonnell.

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

United have more than enough quality to beat Watford, but Walter Mazzarri's men will be high on confidence after a 4-2 comeback defeat of West Ham United last time out, and they will look to take advantage of the Red Devils' poor form.

Mourinho will need to galvanise his players to avoid United potentially slipping six points back from Premier League-leaders City—who play Bournemouth at home—just five games into the season.