Jose Mourinho: This is why I cannot hand starts to two popular stars

Martial MUFC

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has explained why he is unable to hand starts to both Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford.

Both Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford have impressed for Manchester United so far this season but surprisingly, manager Jose Mourinho has been averse to handing the two players a place in the starting lineup at the same time.

In fact, Martial and Rashford have only ever started together on 12 occasions and Mourinho’s decision to provide both players with a start against Newcastle United on Saturday paid off as the two players played a key role in helping the Red Devils claim a 4-1 victory at Old Trafford.

Despite this fact though, Mourinho has gone on to admit that it is still not a straightforward decision to start both Martial and Rashford at the same time and explained that since the two players both like to play from the left wing, it is difficult to include the duo from the start.

Mourinho said, “They both like to play in the same position and that is difficult. They both prefer to play on the left than the right, both playing with another striker through the middle, we lose a point of contact with the midfield that we are used to, with the player playing behind the striker.

“But we found then a certain balance and when they start finding, sometimes both, one opening the left and one on the mid-left between the striker and the left winger, it was the moment where we start creating more.

“But to be honest Newcastle was probably the team, not in the second-half, but in the first-half which come here and we felt a bit of instability in our defensive areas, and that was clearly not because of the defensive players but because of our balance. So to play them [Martial and Rashford] together gives us things but also takes some things from us.”




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