Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has hit back at the "football Einsteins" who have criticised him during the club's recent run of three straight defeats.

United stopped the rot with a 3-1 win over third-tier Northampton Town in the third round of the EFL Cup on Tuesday after losing to Manchester City, Feyenoord and Watford in the past week.

"I know that some football Einsteins –- football is full of Einsteins –- I know that they tried to delete 16 years of my career,” Mourinho told MUTV, United's in-house television station. 

"They tried to delete an unbelievable history of Man United football club and to focus on a bad week with three bad results. But that’s the new football –- it’s full of Einsteins," the Portuguese added.

“I can understand clearly the disappointment if the fans are disappointed with the last week," said Mourinho, who previously coached European football giants Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid

"I understand completely but I’m sure that with the team going back home (against Premier League champions Leicester City on Saturday) they will be behind the team like they always are."

United's win over Northampton, built on goals by Michael Carrick, Ander Herrera and Marcus Rashford, set up a fourth round tie against local rivals Manchester City.

"I think it's good for us," Herrera told MUTV. "We can show again what we want to do. We were very disappointed (to lose to City) because it was in front of our fans and now we have another chance to play against them. 

"I'm sure it will be different."