Jose Mourinho pinned the blame on Luke Shaw as Manchester United crashed to their third straight defeat.

The Old Trafford boss was fuming at ref Michael Oliver for failing to penalise a Miguel Britos tackle on Anthony Martial in the build-up to Etienne Capoue’s opener – claiming refs were at fault for losses against Manchester City, Feyenoord and now Watford.

But Mourinho also hit out at England left-back Shaw for his inability to close down Nordin Amrabat before Juan Camilo Zuniga’s decisive 83rd-minute strike.

Mourinho admitted United had also failed to close down City’s Aleksandar Kolarov before City’s opening goal in the Manchester derby.

Watford 3-1 Manchester United

He said: “The first Man City goal and this second goal against Watford – you can find an incredible similarity, which is Kolarov has the ball in a difficult situation in the corner and my players, instead of going up to press they decide to give space.

“And here for the second goal, Amrabat receives the ball and our left-back is 25 metres from him instead of five metres. But even at 25 metres, you have to jump and go and press, but no, we wait.

“This is a tactical but also a mental attitude. It’s something that doesn’t become perfect in a couple of weeks.

Eamonn and James Clarke

Eamonn and James Clarke

Eamonn and James Clarke

“I can split these defeats into three factors – one, the referee’s crucial mistakes are not in my control, there is nothing I can do about that.

“But against Man City you know what happened in minute 55 (a Claudio Bravo challenge on Wayne Rooney which might have brought a penalty and red card). You know that happened for the fist goal here and against Feyenoord there was the offside goal.

“Secondly there is (being) lucky and unlucky. It’s part of the game.

Action Images via Reuters

Reuters

“The third thing is what is my hands, which is the improvement of the team and the individuals. Try to stop with the defensive mistakes. I knew that I had a task.

“So we have to improve, no doubt, individually and collectively. And that’s my job. Lady luck you don’t control and referees mistakes you don’t control.”

Action Images via Reuters

Marcus Rashford had equalised for United after Watford had bossed the first half – but after Zuniga’s strike, Troy Deeney netted a penalty to ensure a deserved Hornets victory.

And Mourinho admits his players are struggling to cope with pressure situations.

He said: “Because we started the season very well with the Community Shield and three victories in a row in the Premier League, the best start that a new manager has had at United I think, I wasn’t thinking that my team was ready, perfect, unbeatable.

“I was completely aware that we were not perfect, with lots of players who are not end products and can make their own mistakes.

“My only doubt was about the way they can cope with the negative moments that come sooner or later. I feel that some individuals probably feel that pressure and responsibility too much.

“But from a collective point of view, I only have good things to say about them.”