Jose Mourinho does not want Marcus Rashford to be selected for next
year’s European Under-21 Championships if the Manchester United striker
is a regular in the senior England squad.
The United manager was responding to stories that England’s governing
Football Association were keen to include Premier League stars, such as
Rashford, in their Under-21 squad for the tournament in Poland in June.
Mourinho has no problem with Rashford, who turns 19 on the last day
of this month, being a part of that squad – but only if he has not
established himself in the senior set-up.
“We are in mid-October, the Championships will be in the summer,” United manager Mourinho said Wednesday.
“I think we have to wait and see what happens until then. Because if
the player becomes a regular in the ‘A’ national team, if you want to
call it that, then to say it is important for his development (to be)
with the Under-21s, makes no sense.”
Gareth Southgate has been promoted from his post as England Under-21
boss to be the manager of the senior England team on an interim basis,
with the FA still to announce if the former England defender will
succeed Sam Allardyce on a permanent basis after the veteran coach was
forced out after just one game following indiscreet comments made to
undercover reporters.
“If he’s an Under-21 player in the national team, then he is an
Under-21 player and there is no discussion about that,” said Mourinho of
Rashford.
“But if he becomes a regular choice for Gareth Southgate in the first
team, then we have to speak because we don’t want him going.”
Rashford has five England caps to his name, four of them as a substitute in competitive internationals.
– Rooney ‘working well’ –
Mourinho was speaking as he put the finishing touches to plans for the Europa League group game with Fenerbahce at Old Trafford on Thursday.
Mourinho was speaking as he put the finishing touches to plans for the Europa League group game with Fenerbahce at Old Trafford on Thursday.
The game could be the opportunity for Wayne Rooney and Henrikh
Mkhitaryan to feature in the starting side as Mourinho juggles his squad
ahead of Sunday’s trip to Chelsea.
Rooney has not started the last four United games and has also seen
his place in the England run-on XI disappear under new manager
Southgate.
“Wayne is working well, he is one of those responsible for the
atmosphere for the players,” insisted Mourinho. “He is positive, he is a
good example. We count on him to start or be on the bench. He will be
there tomorrow (Thursday).”
As for Mkhitaryan, a £26 million ($34.5 million, 30.7 million euros)
pre-season signing from Borussia Dortmund, the Armenian has not been
involved since defeat in the Manchester derby in early-September as he
struggles to recover from a thigh injury.
“He was injured and was injured for quite a long time,” said
Mourinho. “Now he is not injured anymore. He has been training with the
team without any limitation. “I cannot confirm if he plays tomorrow.”
The only player whom Mourinho confirmed would start against Turkish
side Fenerbahce was England left-back Luke Shaw, who has not kicked-off a
game for United since the manager criticised hium following last
month’s defeat loss at Watford.
Shaw insisted he had taken Mourinho’s comments in his stride and was keen to improve.
“Of course,” said Shaw. “I said before I’m a grown man and I can take what the manager said.
“I’m still young and I need to take on board what he said and
improve. I’m always going to listen to what the coaches saying have a
good attitude about it.”
Shaw added: “I was disappointed with the result but not what the
manager said. I take it on board and look to improve. Hopefully I can do
that in the next matches.”
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