Manchester United news: Mourinho's side 'sloppy' and in 'complete disarray', say Paul Scholes and Steve McManaman

United succumbed at Vicarage Road on Sunday after already falling to defeat against rivals Manchester City and Feyenoord

Jose Mourinho takes a moment to himself at Watford (Getty)

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has criticised Jose Mourinho’s side after they slipped to another “sloppy” defeat at Watford, their third such reverse in eight days.

United succumbed at Vicarage Road on Sunday - after already falling to defeat against rivals Manchester City and Feyenoord in the Europa League - courtesy of goals from Etienne Capoue, Juan Zuniga and an added-time spot kick by Troy Deeney.

Scholes, joined by former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder Steve McManaman on BT Sport, said United’s “very, very poor” retention of possession was alarming and cited teenage striker Marcus Rashford as the only positive to draw from another dour outing.

“As much as you talk about formations and who should play where, the quality on the ball was as poor as you would see from a Manchester United team. That's just the way it is at the minute,” Scholes said.

“You're not sure what you're going to get. Rashford is the only shining light really. He didn't have the best game but he looked a threat. I just think in possession Manchester United were really, really poor.

“Individually it wasn't good enough. The possession wasn't good enough, they were sloppy giving the ball away.

“I thought [Marouane] Fellaini was alright today – he does a job in there which stops the team. I just think, if you're Manchester United, you need someone who can stop the opposition but he needs to be capable of controlling a game of football as well.

“Playing forward, passing forward. As well as he's done the first three or four games, I just can't understand why Michael Carrick [is not] there.

“It looked last year like he was leaving, he's not played a minute this season. What he's done I don't know. Obviously [Bastian] Schweinsteiger he's not keen on but they need that playmaker in there.”

McManaman was also in attendance and highlighted the “disjointed” nature of Mourinho’s line-up as another factor to consider in analysing their slump of late.

“I thought Manchester United were in complete disarray,” McManaman said. “I have no idea, for the first time in a long time – actually at times it was the same under Louis Van Gaal - how they're going to play, who they're going to play, where they going to play.

“I couldn't tell you who's going to play in the next game for Manchester United if everyone is fit. They look as if they are all over the place.”