Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has ridiculed talks that Marcus Rashford may have to leave Old Trafford in order to progress further in his professional career. The England international has found himself as a regular substitute under Mourinho this term, and the Portuguese has stressed that the current situation is only positive towards the forward’s development as he gets the opportunity to learn from senior players including Alexis Sanchez.
Speaking ahead of the Spurs game, Mourinho talked up the Englishman’s development during his time under Louis van Gaal, and though he has received reduced playing time with the ‘monster’ (Mourinho), the 55-year-old believes there is a bright future ahead for the United graduate.
He said: “His story is quite interesting because he started playing with Mr. Van Gaal when the team was really in trouble to have options. Then the monster that kills the little kids arrived. But he has played every game since then.
“The kid is having a hell of an experience at every level so an amazing future waits for him and being surrounded by these players [Sanchez] can only help him. But the whole story of Marcus will not get minutes and matches, that story is really old because he’s a very important player for us.”
Rashford was more of a centre-forward under ex-boss Van Gaal, and he has to adapt differently under Mourinho, which has in turn reduced his goalscoring ratio. The 20-year-old started the campaign as the first-choice on the left side of the attack, but the form of Anthony Martial has seemingly dropped him into bench, and he may have to make the most of his current opportunities in order to break into the starting lineup once more.
Mourinho has utilised Rashford in the centre-forward position whenever Romelu Lukaku has needed a rest or absent through injury, and at this stage of his season, every minute of playing time must be crucial, if he is to command a starting spot with England at the summer World Cup finals in Russia.
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