Mourinho: United lacked sharpness

JOSE Mourinho criticised Manchester United's players for their unprofessional approach to the Europa League clash with St Etienne.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's first hat-trick for the club secured a 3-0 victory that puts United in control of the last-32 clash ahead of next Wednesday's second leg in France.

However, the scoreline was grander than the Red Devils' performance at Old Trafford, where St Etienne were unlucky to have gone in at half-time behind having scared United on numerous occasions.

Asked afterwards if he was happy with the result, Mourinho said: "I am - especially because in the first half, we played so bad, and we managed to finish it winning 1-0 when we didn't deserve it.

"It was down to lack of concentration.

"I had the feeling immediately in the dressing room - too noisy, too funny, too relaxed. Then my assistants had the feeling in the warm-up, with some of the guys not really focused on getting the right adrenaline in their bodies.

"Then the game started and the first thing we did was a back-pass (by Eric Bailly) to the striker (Romain Hamouma) to be face-to-face with Sergio (Romero).

DIFFICULT

"So, lack of concentration. And when you don't have it, it's difficult to recover it. So the first half was hard.

"Even myself on the touchline, I felt it was difficult, the communication. I needed the half-time. So we were lucky, yes, to be winning 1-0.

"I am not happy with it. At half-time, the score could be 1-1. I always think we have to play every game with the same attitude."

Put to him that the attitude might be down to the fact it was the Europa League rather than the Champions League, Mourinho said: "I know Champions League is the competition everyone wants to play, everyone wants to win, I know that.

"We don't play Champions League, so if that is the case I would prefer to play in the Europa League than be at home watching TV."

Mourinho did stress the second half was "a different story" and said of the match overall: "To score three goals and not concede in the first leg at home, it's always a good result - it is not over, but it is a good result."

United are FA Cup fifth-round action on Sunday when they travel to Blackburn (4.15pm kick-off).