Mourinho points finger at players following derby defeat

The Portuguese said “sometimes players disappoint their managers” after seeing his Manchester United side slip to a 2-1 defeat against Manchester City on Saturday.

Jose Mourinho blamed his Manchester United players as the reason why his side suffered a 2-1 defeat against Manchester City in the Manchester derby on Saturday.

Mourinho's men were outplayed for long spells as Pep Guardiola's side laid down an early marker with victory at Old Trafford thanks to first-half goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Kelechi Iheanacho.

And afterwards Mourinho said “sometimes players disappoint their managers” when asked about United's first defeat of the season in his post-match interview.

He told Sky Sports: “In the first half they were much better than us. We started the game bad.

“We started the game with some players really below their normal level in terms of their concentration and mental availability to play a game of this speed.

“You need to be sharp the way you think and the way you play.

"One or two players were below that level and the team paid for it.

"Honestly, I have two or three players in the first half who, if the game is now and I know what is going to happen, I don't play them, but this is football and sometimes players disappoint managers and sometimes players give us great surprises.”