Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was left bemused by his side's defending after they lost 1-0 to Newcastle United on Sunday.

Magpies striker Ayoze Perez was allowed to knock down Jonjo Shelvey's free-kick unmarked inside the United box. The resulting loose ball was pounced upon by Matt Ritchie who duly slotted home the game's only goal. Both Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic seemingly watched Perez rise to reach the ball.

"It's a lateral free kick," Mourinho said. "It's not even a lateral free-kick from a dangerous position, is really far from the goal, clearly the positions were the players miss the challenge in the air.

"I remember clearly without television but just with my memory from the touchline a Newcastle player jumping and two of my players looking at him and staying on the floor. So the guy won the ball in the air and then the second in the face of David [de Gea].

"We train, we work, we organise, the players have their individual jobs in situation in defence, the players know there's responsibilities. But I'm pretty sure that you already watch that goal on television a few times, I didn't. I'm pretty sure that you did, so you know more than me, you know who lost the challenge in the air.

"So I think it's better if you don't put me in a position where I don't criticise a player and by yourself you make your analyse."