MARCUS: WE DID IT THE HARD WAY

MATCHWINNER Marcus Rashford was a relieved young man after his 107thminute goal sent Manchester United into the Europa League semi-finals. Rashford had missed a number of chances as United were taken to extratime by durable Anderlecht. Their hopes were also hit when Zlatan Ibrahimovic jarred his right knee in the last attack of the 90 minutes. But Jose Mourinho’s men made it and they were joined in the last four by Ajax, Celta Vigo and Lyon. The final will be in Stockholm on May 24. Rashford said: ‘All you can do is keep trying. In the second half we kept pinning them back. ‘We had a lot of chances but we got the goal in the end. We’ve done it the hard way but none of that matters now.’ Mourinho, asked about injuries to Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo, who was carried off in the first half, said: ‘I don’t think they are easy injuries but I prefer to wait until all of the tests are done then speak what I feel. I cannot do that yet as I am the manager and not a doctor. I think we had 16 shots and 10 on target. The game was difficult. If somebody didn’t watch the match they would say it was total domination but it was not like that. For about an hour we had good control of the game. ‘At 1-1 you are in risk but from that moment we were in control. It was just a question of scoring but it was hard.’ On Rashford’s persistence he said: ‘It’s his mentality. OK you speak about his qualities. They are fantastic but (before Sunday against Chelsea) he was not scoring a goal since September. Some of the other players could learn because he is fantastic with his effort and his attitude. Some other players, they don’t realise what makes me trust a player, but Marcus I trust.’ United are driven by their desire to lift this trophy for the first time but also to clinch a place in the Champions League next season, the prize for the Europa winners. Fifth-placed United visit Burnley on Sunday, before the derby with fourthplaced Manchester City on Thursday.