Jose Mourinho does not see Marcus Rashford as that player who links midfield and attack.
While the young Manchester United forward played at No. 10 at stages last season, his manager does not see a future for him in that position.
During the Red Devils’ preseason tour of the United States, Mourinho has revealed where the 19-year-old will and won’t be playing next season.
According to the United boss, Rashford does not have the traits of a traditional No. 10, in that he’s not much of a playmaker, but he should flourish in a strike partnership alongside new signing Romelu Lukaku.
“I don’t think Marcus is a No. 10,” Mourinho said, via Manchester Evening News. “I don’t think so. I think Marcus is a pure attacking player, he’s not a player with that quality to play between the lines, to assist, to move and create, I don’t think Marcus is that.
“I think he’s an attacking player who can play in a two or one, he can play besides, can play everywhere, he’s a good working way to if you demand a little bit more defensively, he can play together with Lukaku.
“If he can play with Zlatan in the same team he can play with Lukaku, no problem.”
Rashford is preparing for his third season in the United first team and has dedicated himself to bulking up over the summer in a bid to add some strength to his existing qualities, which include incredible pace and finishing composure beyond his years.
In great nick https://t.co/Bk1CvsXgEg
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) July 18, 2017
Two significant elements of United’s attack last season – Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney – are no longer with the club but Rashford is confident of his ability to follow in the footsteps of the prolific pair.
“It is obviously going to be different but there was a time when they weren’t the people they were. We have to change and develop to become what they were,” Rashford said.
“Wayne just let me get on with it. He was always there to give me advice if I needed some. Losing that type of character is difficult but it is football, we have to move on.
“There was a lot to learn from Ibra, not only from the football side of things but just his mentality and the way he trains, the way he prepares for the games. That’s what I took.
“It’s difficult – we have different playing styles. To take a lot from his game is difficult. You’ve got to look outside of just football and take from his personality and what makes him great.”
