Jose Mourinho was left frustrated with Manchester United's profligacy as it wasted a host of chances in its 1-0 Champions League defeat to Basel on Wednesday.
United needed only a point to secure qualification and progress to the knockout phase as Group A winner, but it was not to be midweek.
Anthony Martial, Romelu Lukaku, Marouane Fellaini and Marcos Rojo all went close in a first half which was dominated by United – with the latter two denied by the frame of the goal.
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And Basel took full advantage, improving immeasurably after half-time and eventually stealing a late win in the 89th minute through Michael Lang, leaving Mourinho understandably frustrated.
"We lost because we should have been 5-0 up at half-time and could not score after being so dominant," Mourinho told BT Sport .
"We were in an easy way for many periods – it looked almost impossible not to win.
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"But experience tells you that when you miss so many chances you put yourself in this position. In the second half, maybe we think the position at 0-0 was okay, but then they score the last minute."
Basel's winner saw Lang sneak in behind Daley Blind and convert, with the Dutchman accepting responsibility in a separate post-match interview.
But Mourinho was eager to ensure he did not blame himself, as he would rather fault "everyone on the pitch" for not wrapping up what should have been a straightforward win.
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"No, I don't think it's fair to blame himself," Mourinho added. "He had a positive game.
"We must blame everyone on the pitch. We missed so many chances and put ourselves in this position. It's always risky when you waste chances."
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