Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has insisted that his tactics and strategy were not to blame for his side's 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur on Monday night.
Mourinho made six changes to his starting lineup following last weekend's 3-2 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion, including deploying Ander Herrera as a makeshift defender in a back three.
However, the second half was once again beset by defensive errors as goals from Harry Kane and Lucas Moura (2) condemned United to successive Premier League defeats for the first time since May 2017.
Mourinho remained defiant after the game, though, and believes that it was the third goal - which arrived six minutes from time - which was the killer blow for his side.
"We work all week, and by the strategic point of view we didn't lose, by the tactical point of view we didn't lose, but we lost the game," Mourinho told Sky Sports News.
"We work very, very well during the week, we prepared the game very well, we played very well, the players had a fantastic attitude. At half time the result should be two goals different minimum, 2-0, 3-1, 3-0. And then something changed the game a little bit.
"Then the result was 2-0 but the team was in the game, and I think everyone could feel one goal could change the direction of the game. I think Tottenham felt it, we were feeling that too. But then the third goal came and killed the game."
The defeat is the heaviest that Mourinho has ever suffered at home throughout his managerial career.
Barney Corkhill
