Mourinho: We love and believe in Marcus Rashford
Jose Mourinho has been singing the praises of Marcus Rashford ahead of Manchester United’s Premier League trip to Crystal Palace on Monday night.
The 20-year-old forward has featured 38 times in all competitions this season, with ten goals and eight assists to his name. When asked about Rashford’s progress, during a press conference to preview the match, Mourinho responded positively and highlighted the youngster’s versatility.
The United manager said: “The good thing with Marcus is he can play in the three attacking positions so, even when he doesn’t start, to be on the bench is such a security for me and for the team.
“Marcus is a fantastic boy. He is also very grounded and, for sure, we love him, and we believe in him and he’s going to have the chances to keep developing.”
The United manager said: “The good thing with Marcus is he can play in the three attacking positions so, even when he doesn’t start, to be on the bench is such a security for me and for the team.
“Marcus is a fantastic boy. He is also very grounded and, for sure, we love him, and we believe in him and he’s going to have the chances to keep developing.”
Rashford has not started for the Reds since the Emirates FA Cup win over Yeovil in late January, but the boss dismissed any talk of this affecting his England prospects in the lead-up to the World Cup.
“If the national coach trusts him, he selects him,” said Mourinho. “It doesn’t matter if he plays or if he doesn’t play.
“I don’t [verbally] reassure anybody, anyone. The main reassurance for Marcus is that he’s always selected [if available]. There is not one single match when he is not selected to start or to be on the bench.”
“If the national coach trusts him, he selects him,” said Mourinho. “It doesn’t matter if he plays or if he doesn’t play.
“I don’t [verbally] reassure anybody, anyone. The main reassurance for Marcus is that he’s always selected [if available]. There is not one single match when he is not selected to start or to be on the bench.”
Last Wednesday was the second anniversary of Rashford’s Premier League debut, when his brace as an 18-year-old helped United to register a 3-2 win over Arsenal at Old Trafford.
That came just three days after he had scored two goals on his full debut against FC Midtjylland in the Europa League, and Mourinho feels the forward is sometimes a victim of that early success.
That came just three days after he had scored two goals on his full debut against FC Midtjylland in the Europa League, and Mourinho feels the forward is sometimes a victim of that early success.
The boss said: “Because Marcus had such an impact in the beginning, probably people are expecting him to play even more than he does and score even more than he does and to perform even more than he does. But that’s not so simple.
“At his age, what he’s doing is more than enough, and the experience that he’s getting at every level is more than enough, for us to be happy with what we think is going to be his future.”
“At his age, what he’s doing is more than enough, and the experience that he’s getting at every level is more than enough, for us to be happy with what we think is going to be his future.”