‘RASHFORD PRESSURE TOO MUCH’
JOSE Mourinho believes too much pressure has been heaped onto Marcus Rashford as he struggles to rediscover his United form.
The striker, who turned 21 on Halloween, has scored just once this season when he had tallied seven this time last year, although the England international has struck in three of the last four internationals - with two coming against Spain.
Mourinho played Rashford up front against Everton last week at the expense of the dropped Romelu Lukaku but could recall the Belgian against Bournemouth in today’s Premier League fixture. Rashford had a goal correctly ruled out for offside in the win over Everton and squandered a one-on-one with Jordan Pickford.
“I think he’s having fantastic conditions to develop,” Mourinho said. “He’s still developing.
“Since Mr Van Gaal brought him to the team, then I come and he played with me a lot, played in the national team with Sam (Allardyce) and then with Gary [Gareth Southgate], playing the World Cup, playing the Europa League final, playing two FA Cup finals. He’s having incredible opportunities to develop, which I think is what he’s doing.
“I think the pressure is probably too high. He just turned 21. How many players at 21 had more game time in a big club, for a big country and national team? How many players are getting this kind of opportunities to develop their potential? Not many.
“From my point of view, a little pressure will help him to achieve what he can achieve.”
JOSE Mourinho is hopeful Anthony Martial will commit his long-term future to United and believes the Frenchman is on the cusp of becoming a ‘top player.’
The forward has scored four goals in his last three domestic matches and his representatives have opened discussions about a new contract, despite Martial’s agent Philippe Lamboley claiming he wanted to leave the Reds in June.
Given Martial’s stance, Mourinho was open to selling the 22-year-old in the summer – provided United received an acceptable offer – but, amid interest from Tottenham and Chelsea, United did not receive a serious bid.
The Frenchman has technically entered the last year of his contract but United have the option of an additional year to tie him to the club until 2020.
Martial has started United’s last four Premier League matches and supplanted Alexis Sanchez in Mourinho’s starting XI. When asked how close the France international was to inking an extension, Mourinho stressed he was not involved in the negotiations.
“I don’t belong to the discussions of contracts,” Mourinho said. “To be honest, I don’t even know their contracts in the sense of numbers and I’m really happy with that, not participating in these kind of discussions.
“Obviously, I hope they will agree. One thing is that he’s a talented player that everybody knows he is, everybody knows since he was in Monaco that he is a talented player. Another thing is a talented player with consistency and understanding what a football match is in the globality.
“When you reach that level, or when you are almost reaching that level, is when you become a top player. One thing is top talent, another is a top player. He is now much closer to being a top player.
“Obviously, I would like him to stay. I know the club wants him very much to stay. Hopefully he is going to stay.”
Should United beat Bournemouth in their lunchtime fixture today they will rise up to seventh in the Premier League table and a four-goal win would elevate them to sixth. Mourinho insists it is pointless to discuss a possible late title tilt while they are outside the top four, though.
“Not outside top four, it doesn’t make sense to speak about the title,” Mourinho added. “It doesn’t make sense at all.
“We had bad results, difficult fixtures. We have City and Liverpool away mixed with Valencia and Juventus away.
“Let’s go step by step. We are playing better. In spite that we won at Burnley and Watford away, I think the Chelsea performance is a very strong performance away from home.