Marcus Rashford reveals why he won’t hold grudge against Mourinho Marcus Rashford has revealed why he won’t hold a grudge against Jose Mourinho despite some difficult times during their time together at Manchester United. Mourinho’s spell in charge of Manchester United came under constant fire after a bright start but Rashford says that, despite the unsettling moments, he felt the Portuguese coach was a powerful influence. One challenging episode came at the start of the 2018/2019 season when reports surfaced that Rashford was reprimanded by Mourinho after claims the young striker did not complete a proper warm-down and “did not follow the instructions from coaching staff after the game”. Rashford had been introduced to the first team under Louis van Gaal and, although Mourinho carried a reputation for being suspicious of younger players, the England striker’s development continued. He turned into one of the club’s shining lights during Mourinho’s two-and-a-half year spell at Old Trafford and also became a key man for England. Despite the ups and downs, Rashford believes it was all part of the learning curve. “It was tough but I think in five or six years’ time, you look back on it and they’re the moments that will give you that mental toughness,” Rashford told the Utd Podcast. “Because as an all-round player, I think I’ve improved a lot and a lot of it is down to them two years under Jose. “Yeah, we had ups and downs, but when I look back on it, it was a tough period but definitely a period that made me a better player.” While most players are feeling frustrated at the halt to football during the coronavirus pandemic, Rashford sees it somewhat differently. A back injury has kept him out since mid-January and that was a major concern as he battled to be fit for the European Championships. But the postponement of the tournament until 2021 will allow him time to recover. “Yeah, for me I was probably going to go back with the team in the middle or end of April, but that would have been a push because obviously I didn’t want to miss the summer,” Rashford said. “I doubt I would have been 100 per cent fit going into that tournament or even finishing off the season, but that’s what we were aiming for and obviously since then a lot has happened with this virus. “So, for my body, really, it’s been good to just let it (rest). I can give it its full duration to rest.” Rashford also responded to comments made by former teammate Wayne Rooney that he shouldn’t push it if not 100%. Rooney admitted he tried to play through a foot injury ahead of the 2006 World Cup and probably should not have gone to the finals. “I definitely pay attention but at the same time when it comes down to it, making the decision whether you feel like you can go or you can’t go, it’s tough to basically say no to something where you could give it a good go,” said Rashford. “But I understand what he’s saying. “It’s one of them things as players you want to try and play every game you can, really, and of course you are going to have niggles and little injuries, but you know timing’s key in everything. “If it’s not the right time to do it, then you have to try and pull yourself out of it. The post Marcus Rashford reveals why he won’t hold grudge against Mourinho appeared first on teamtalk.com.

Marcus Rashford has revealed why he won’t hold a grudge against Jose Mourinho despite some difficult times during their time together at Manchester United.

Mourinho’s spell in charge of Manchester United came under constant fire after a bright start but Rashford says that, despite the unsettling moments, he felt the Portuguese coach was a powerful influence.

One challenging episode came at the start of the 2018/2019 season when reports surfaced that Rashford was reprimanded by Mourinho after claims the young striker did not complete a proper warm-down and “did not follow the instructions from coaching staff after the game”.

Rashford had been introduced to the first team under Louis van Gaal and, although Mourinho carried a reputation for being suspicious of younger players, the England striker’s development continued.

He turned into one of the club’s shining lights during Mourinho’s two-and-a-half year spell at Old Trafford and also became a key man for England.

Despite the ups and downs, Rashford believes it was all part of the learning curve.

“It was tough but I think in five or six years’ time, you look back on it and they’re the moments that will give you that mental toughness,” Rashford told the Utd Podcast.

“Because as an all-round player, I think I’ve improved a lot and a lot of it is down to them two years under Jose.

 

“Yeah, we had ups and downs, but when I look back on it, it was a tough period but definitely a period that made me a better player.”

While most players are feeling frustrated at the halt to football during the coronavirus pandemic, Rashford sees it somewhat differently.

A back injury has kept him out since mid-January and that was a major concern as he battled to be fit for the European Championships.

But the postponement of the tournament until 2021 will allow him time to recover.

“Yeah, for me I was probably going to go back with the team in the middle or end of April, but that would have been a push because obviously I didn’t want to miss the summer,” Rashford said.

“I doubt I would have been 100 per cent fit going into that tournament or even finishing off the season, but that’s what we were aiming for and obviously since then a lot has happened with this virus.

“So, for my body, really, it’s been good to just let it (rest). I can give it its full duration to rest.”

Rashford also responded to comments made by former teammate Wayne Rooney that he shouldn’t push it if not 100%. Rooney admitted he tried to play through a foot injury ahead of the 2006 World Cup and probably should not have gone to the finals.

“I definitely pay attention but at the same time when it comes down to it, making the decision whether you feel like you can go or you can’t go, it’s tough to basically say no to something where you could give it a good go,” said Rashford. “But I understand what he’s saying.

“It’s one of them things as players you want to try and play every game you can, really, and of course you are going to have niggles and little injuries, but you know timing’s key in everything.

“If it’s not the right time to do it, then you have to try and pull yourself out of it.

The post Marcus Rashford reveals why he won’t hold grudge against Mourinho appeared first on teamtalk.com.

Jo Harrison