Ben Guest
Jose Mourinho has said Marcus Rashford is ‘a man of movement’ and ‘not a target man’ as he discussed the forward’s best position.
With Romelu Lukaku having departed the club in the summer, and Anthony Martial having spent time on the treatment table, the England international has been utilised as a central striker by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
His spell through the middle hasn’t really worked out though, and has only fuelled the debate on what actually is his best position, with Solskjaer saying in midweek that he sees the Manchester United number 10 as more of a wide player or as part of a front two.
Having scored a fine strike for England against Bulgaria having started on the left flank, Rashford once again found the net in United’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool on Sunday, and former Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho said that Rashford is more suited to the wider role in which he was deployed compared to being played through the middle as a number nine.
Marcus Rashford at 21:
Liverpool ⚽️⚽️⚽️
Chelsea ⚽️⚽️⚽️
City ⚽️⚽️
Arsenal ⚽️⚽️
Spurs ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/HpBnwixlgK— Scott Patterson (@R_o_M) October 20, 2019
“When we beat Liverpool a couple of years ago, we played with Rashford and Romelu Lukaku up front. He is not a target man, he is a man of movement,” Mourinho told Sky Sports.
“I do not think he is a pure nine. If Ole is going to play him as he did today then I think he is the perfect player for him.
“He’s young but he is experienced. With 21 years he probably has more matches than some players who are 24, 25. For me he is potentially a very good player, in some models and in some positions.
“As a number nine, I don’t think he has the 30 goals a season in him. I don’t think he can get better as a target man. To be better as a target man is difficult for him.”
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