Sports - Football - All Teams
Updated: May 11, 2021

EPL: Marcus Rashford Explains Why It Was Difficult For Him To Play His Best Football Under Mourinho [VIDEO]

By Ridwan Yusuf
May 11, 2021
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Manchester United forward, Marcus Rashford believes he plays his best football when he is given the chance to roam around different areas of the attacking third.

However, that's not something he was given the luxury to do under former manager, Jose Mourinho, according to the 23-year-old, who insists the Special One's system was a lot more rigid.

Mourinho handed the English Premier League (EPL) star a prominent role in his set-up after moving into the dugout, but he wasn't able to deliver the goods in the final third on a consistent basis during the Portuguese's two-and-a-half-year reign, which he puts down to being stifled from a creative standpoint.

In a recent interview with Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand, Rashford wasn't scared to hold back when talking about Mourinho

He talked about how the former FC Porto, Inter Milan and Real Madrid manager made it difficult for him to "play his best football"

Quizzed on whether Mourinho allowed his players to express themselves freely going forward, Rashford told BT Sport: "I think that's when we play our best football (when we can be flexible).

"Under Jose I would say everything was a bit (points) 'you play there, you play there, you play there'.

"And yeah, you can do a job, but it was difficult for me to play my best football."

Rashford's old team-mate Rooney also weighed in on Mourinho's rigid matchday planning, recalling the time he was benched in favour of his fellow countryman for United's 2-0 win over Chelsea in 2017-18.

"I remember a Chelsea game, I was on the bench. Marcus kept me out the team!" the Derby County coach added on Rio Ferdinand's Between the Lines show. "I remember he (Jose) played a back SIX.

"And I remember thinking, 'Jose's put Marcus up top on his own. Unless he runs in behind, Chelsea and David Luiz, with all that experience, if he comes to feet we're in trouble.'"

Rashford broke the 20-goal mark for the first time in his career last season, and has done so again in 2020-21 after 53 appearances in all competitions.

Under the guidance of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Rashford also has 15 assists to his name this term, including a beautifully-flighted cross for Edinson Cavani's goal in United's 3-1 win at Aston Villa on Sunday.

Watch Marcus Rashford’s interview below:

Rio Ferdinand intervires Rooney and Rashford 'All Things Manchester United'.#MUFC #ManUtd https://t.co/b9qlptNcBK
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