JOSE MOURINHO ADMITTED Manchester United paid the price for a lack of desire as they were out-fought by Huddersfield Town in a shock 2-1 defeat on Saturday.
Mourinho’s side were rocked by first-half goals from Aaron Mooy and Laurent Depoitre at the John Smith’s Stadium.
Marcus Rashford got one back in the closing stages, but it was too late to stop United suffering their first defeat in nine Premier League games this season.
Mourinho made no excuses for United’s unusually lethargic display, saying: “The team that wanted it more won. I was surprised by our performance, I was not expecting that.
The team that started with emotion, aggression, intensity and desire, the team that played the game of their lives, was the team that won.
“Maybe in the second half we wanted it a little more and maybe we could get a draw, but I honestly think we deserved the punishment of the defeat.
I’m disappointed, but the reality is they were stronger than us.”
United midfielder Ander Herrera was equally scathing and said his team’s performance was unacceptable.
“They were more passionate than us, more aggressive. We cannot accept that,” Herrera said.
We lost almost every ball. That cannot happen in the Premier League.”
United are now five points behind leaders Manchester City and, asked about Herrera’s comments, Mourinho said: “I heard Ander Herrera said the attitude and desire was poor, oh my God.
When a player thinks that then I think all players should go to the press conference and explain why because I can’t explain.
“It concerns me of course. If it happened today then why can’t it happen tomorrow?
“I don’t even remember a friendly match where the attitude was so poor.”
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