Jose's verdict on Watford

Jose Mourinho praised the team’s defensive display as it ended goalless at Watford on Saturday.

We had the better of the first half at Vicarage Road and created the best chance when Dele sent Lucas Moura through on goal, only for Ben Foster to block the one-on-one.

Watford, unbeaten in six at the start of play, pushed us back in the second half, but we dug deep as the crosses came in.

However, there was one key moment. Jan Vertonghen handled from Gerard Deulofeu on 68 minutes. Troy Deeney stepped up, Paulo Gazzaniga guessed the right way and palmed away to his right.

We were so close to winning it right at the end as Erik Lamela turned Serge Aurier’s cross towards goal. Foster was beaten - Ignacio Pussetto cleared off the line with millimetres to spare.

“It was a good performance,” said Jose. “I knew it was going to be a difficult game, I knew it was going to be physical, we are not physical. I knew it was going to be very direct, and we are not very good on direct, but I think we adapted very well defensively.

“It’s difficult to press high when the ball is in the air, I always say that. How can you press the ball if the ball is in the air? There is no point in bringing the block up because the ball isn’t there. We coped well.

“With the ball, we had a lot of attacking players on the pitch. Apart from the four defenders, where Serge Aurier is more of a winger than a defender, we had only attacking players.

"Winks, maybe 50-50, but after that Giovani, Lamela, Lucas, Son, Dele and later, Gedson, Eriksen. We had the ball, we created, we dominated, we had our chances and that’s the way it is. We didn’t score, the ball was there, smelling, but didn’t want to go in.

“It’s impossible to dominate against them for 90 minutes and when I say dominate, it’s even by having the ball, hiding the ball, by moving.

“It’s impossible for 90 minutes, so there is always a period when they go long, flicks, second balls, Deeney holding the ball, and it’s difficult. The boys coped well with it, so I’m pleased with them. The result is not the result we wanted, we showed from minute one we wanted a different result than this, but that’s the way it is.”