Mourinho: Rashord Deserves My Support

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho insists Marcus Rashford deserves support and not criticism as he continues to develop as a first-team player.

The boss is unconcerned by the 19-year-old’s lack of goals in his first full season in the senior team, instead preferring to focus on the forward’s unwavering endeavour, a quality he appreciates in all his players.

Speaking in his press conference after Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Everton, in which Rashford made his 40th appearance of the season, Mourinho insisted he would continue to nurture the talented youngster.

"We have people that are not getting [taking] the opportunities and that’s bad for the team," the manager said. "But I speak with them because when you give absolutely everything and you leave the pitch absolutely dead of work, that’s fine for me.

"Marcus Rashford doesn’t score goals since September [in the Premier League] – the only thing he deserves is support. Nothing else. Support, no critics, support. He works, he works, he works. He tries, he plays through the middle, he goes to the left, he goes to the right, he tries, he tries, he tries.

"The kid is desperate. It’s not a surprise for me – the second year not being as good as the first one. Maybe one day I will try to find out if it happened with Ryan Giggs or someone. They appear as a kid and then the next year it’s not the same. But the kid is phenomenal – an amazing professional. So no problem. I told him – keep going."