Jose Mourinho has revealed why he is satisfied with Marcus Rashford. The teenager had been a continuous menace to opposition defences last season but has been struggling this term.
Rashford broke into the United first team last season under Louis van Gaal. He proved his mettle as he scored a brace on his Premier League debut and Europa League debut. His performance in the red shirt paved the way for an England call up.
Mourinho decided to bring in Zlatan Ibrahimović and the 35-year-old has been outstanding throughout this season, keeping Rashford out from the starting lineup. The 19-year-old has started in 10 games this season but has made the only appearance up front against Arsenal as Ibrahimović was suspended.
Rashford extended his contract to prolong his stay but there has been a growing concern in the club that Real Madrid might lure the player to Spain.
Mourinho said, “He said something the other day that made me really happy.
“He says he is learning so much in the technical meetings and training sessions so I think his future will be brilliant. His present is good and we need him.
“I’m always happy with Marcus Rashford’s contribution. He is one of those players that when he is on the pitch he tries when he always gives something.
“I know that last season under no pressure, last season in front of the goal, the goal was bigger. I know this season the expectations are higher, the pressure is higher and the goal is smaller. He is missing some chances he’s not scoring as many goals as he could because he gets lots of playing time on the pitch.
“But it is absolutely natural in the second year after a season of explosion, then the expectation and everything changes. He is not anymore the surprise kid, the player everyone respects that everyone knows and everyone knows the qualities. It is normal he is in this period of transition where he is still a kid but not the new kid in town anymore.
“I think next season will be very, very good for Marcus because this season he is getting experience at this level of responsibility of being a professional player at a club like Manchester United.”
