- Jose Mourinho responds to talk of Marcus Rashford’s future at Man Utd
- Signing of Alexis Sanchez has ramped up competition at Old Trafford
- Portuguese tactician dismisses any concern over young England star
- READ MORE: Manchester United cleared to seal £52million transfer after Jose Mourinho talks with club chief
Man Utd boss Jose Mourinho has developed a reputation over the years for not giving young players a chance, but he’s hit back over Marcus Rashford.
The arrival of Alexis Sanchez this month will undoubtedly add competition for places, with the likes of Rashford, Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata all already battling it out.
However, comments made in the video below by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp have seemingly sparked a concern over how involved Rashford might be moving forward, as he went as far as to say that he may even be forced to leave Old Trafford in order to play regularly.
? “He might have to go in the end.”
? Jamie thinks it could be time to wave goodbye to Marcus Rashford’s Manchester United career. #MUFC pic.twitter.com/Zd6E525pxg
— Sky Bet (@SkyBet) January 29, 2018
Given that Rashford has made 36 appearances in all competitions so far this season, scoring 10 goals and providing eight assists, he seems heavily involved enough to suggest that he is a big part of Mourinho’s plans moving forward regardless of whether or not Sanchez has joined the Red Devils.
That’s the sentiment that the Portuguese tactician echoed when speaking to reporters on Wednesday, as he joked about that aforementioned reputation of not playing younger stars having sold the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku in the past, but he doesn’t envisage that happening with Rashford.
“Then ‘The monster that kills the little kids’ arrived, but he plays every game since then,” he is quoted as saying by The Sun. “He plays every game, starting or coming from the bench, as a striker, as a left winger, as a right winger. Then he goes to the national team.
“The kid is having a hell of an experience at every level. But the whole story of Marcus — will he get minutes and matches? — that story is really old, because he’s a very important player for us.”
That should put an end to concerns over Rashford’s future at United, and in truth, the England international should be relishing the opportunity to train with players like Sanchez every day as it will surely only improve his playing ability and mentality to go on and become a leader for the team in the future.
Of course, the proof will come in his actual minutes on the pitch, but based on Mourinho’s comments above, United fans should have no reason to be concerned over one of their top youth products being crowded out at Old Trafford.