Tuesday 9 December 2014 12:19, UK
Southampton manager Ronald Koeman believes his side had themselves to blame for their 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at St Mary’s.
Robin van Persie was the hero for United after his brace helped Louis van Gaal’s side climb to third in the Premier League table, but it was not before Saints gifted him the chances.
And Koeman, whose side were handed their third straight league defeat, believes the hosts were beaten by their own mistakes.
“I think we were the better side,” he told Sky Sports.
“We played attacking football and tried to press them but then (the scoreline is an) important detail of the game. We tried to capitalise on their mistakes but didn’t.
“We had more chances in the game, we played better, we had more ball possession but the result is 1-2. I said to the lads, 'we didn’t lose to United, we lost to ourselves'.
First, Jose Fonte’s slack back pass was capitalised on by the Dutch striker before Graziano Pelle levelled the score for the home side, but it was Van Persie who had the last say on the south coast.
England goalkeeper Fraser Forster could have collected Wayne Rooney’s deep cross but stayed rooted to his line and it was Van Persie who took advantage, volleying home from close range.
Koeman added: “Van Persie was the difference tonight because he got two presents but when he gets those kind of presents, he scores. We didn’t.
“He took advantage of our mistakes with his quality and that was the difference."
Defeat to United comes on the back of successive losses to Manchester City and Arsenal but Koeman insists his side can still take plenty of positives, despite dropping out of the league’s top four .
“We lost against City because they were better than we are,” said the Saints boss.
“We didn’t lose to Arsenal or Manchester United because they are better. I don’t believe that. They handled the mistakes in a better way than we did.
“At this level that makes the difference.”
