Mourinho expects Pogba and Rashford to stay

LONDON: Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho (pic) is confident playmaker Paul Pogba and forward Marcus Rashford will stay at the Premier League club next season.

France international Pogba has been routinely criticised for his performances this season after scoring six goals and providing 10 assists in 25 league appearances for second-placed United.

Media reports have linked the 25-year-old with a big-money move to France’s Paris St Germain, among other top European outfits, in the close season transfer window.

“I think he’s going to be here next season,” Mourinho told reporters.

“I can give the guarantee that I don’t want him to leave. I can give you the guarantee that the club doesn’t want to sell him and I can give you the guarantee that we don’t have any approach from him, from his agent or from any club.

“So, in this moment, for me, he’s staying.” England international Rashford has been used on the left wing for a majority of the campaign and has scored six goals in 33 league appearances for United but media reports have linked the 20-year-old with a loan move next season to gain experience.

“No,” Mourinho said when asked about a potential loan for Rashford. “What does he need to do to impress me? He impresses me.

“That’s the reason why he was selected for every match of the season, absolutely every match of the season and that’s why he played in so many of them, so he doesn’t need to leave to play. He doesn’t need anything.”

Rashford has played the most games for United under Mourinho, featuring in 102 of the club’s 117 competitive matches since the Portuguese boss took charge in 2016.