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Jose Mourinho conceded Manchester United deserved to lose to Fenerbahce as he watched his players succumb to their fifth defeat of the season in Istanbul.

The Red Devils were a goal down within two minutes as Moussa Sow netted an acrobatic overhead kick before Sunderland loanee Jermain Lens doubled the hosts' lead with a fine free-kick.

Wayne Rooney gave United a glimmer of hope when he halved United's deficit with a long-range effort in the 89th minute, but ultimately Mourinho's men couldn't find another goal to return to Manchester with a point.

The Red Devils boss admitted United made it hard for themselves by going a goal down so early on in the match - just as they did at Chelsea in the Premier League less than two weeks ago.

"They deserved to win," Mourinho told BT Sport. "Football is not just about quality, it's also about effort and commitment. It's about giving everything.

(Image: Reuters) (Image: Getty Images)

"A team that concedes a goal after two minutes is a team that is not ready, not mentally prepared, not focused, not concentrated.

"In an atmosphere like this to concede a goal you give the advantage to the opponent, the opponent is where they want to be.

"Then they defend, then they counter-attack, then they stop the game, then they simulate free-kicks, then they put pressure on the referee's decisions and then they win lots of time with injuries.

"It's our fault that we let them be in that situation. After the second goal we had a reaction. We could get a different result but we didn't deserve more because football is 90 minutes and it's to be played in the maximum of your desire, your capacity and of your concentration. I think they [Fenerbahce] deserved to win."

(Image: Reuters)

Mourinho criticised his team's mental approach to the encounter at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium and admitted his side's scoring woes are becoming a problem.

The Portuguese's goal-shy team have netted just twice in their last four matches in all competitions.

"I think our problem started with our attitude," Mourinho said. "They were playing the Champions League final and we were playing a summer friendly.

(Image: Getty Images)

"That is the reality of the way the game started. After that we had moments of reaction but it's difficult to play a game of this difficulty with two left-backs in the centre of defence.

"I think it's not possible to be dominant and strong without two strong central defenders and in this moment we have two left-backs playing in the centre of defence.

"It's difficult to cope with the physicality and the mental dominance of the game, and, after that, we have lots of creative players on the pitch.

In pictures - Fenerbahce 2-1 Manchester United:

"At half-time I brought on one more. In fact, the first two changes were two midfield players for a striker and an attacking, creative player to try and have the ball and to try to create chances and we did that but we are not scoring enough goals."

Despite the disappointment of the defeat in Istanbul, Mourinho remains confident his team will make it through to the competition's knockout phase.

"If we win our two matches we qualify," Mourinho added. "Even maybe with four points we can qualify. We depend on us and just on us."

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