Mourinho: It’s difficult to play both Rashford and Martial
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has been explaining why he opts to play just one of Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford on a consistent basis.
As quoted by the Independent, the Red Devils manager discussed why he tends to avoid playing the attacking pair together and spoke of how they both like to play in the same area, making it difficult to start them at the same time.
They both like to play in the same position and that is difficult. They both prefer to play on the left than the right, both playing with another striker through the middle, we lose a point of contact with the midfield that we are used to, with the player playing behind the striker.
But we found then a certain balance and when they start finding, sometimes both, one opening the left and one on the mid-left between the striker and the left winger, it was the moment where we start creating more.
Both players have been in good form this season and Martial has especially impressed, contributing with some important goals.
However, both Rashford and Martial played in United’s recent win over Newcastle and it proved to be a successful call from Mourinho.
The Red Devils came out as comprehensive victors on the day despite going a goal behind. Goals from Martial, Chris Smalling, Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku capped a largely dominant display.
But to be honest Newcastle was probably the team, not in the second-half, but in the first-half which come here and we felt a bit of instability in our defensive areas, and that was clearly not because of the defensive players but because of our balance.
So to play them [Martial and Rashford] together gives us things but also takes some things from us.
Mourinho will now hope to be able to accommodate both players in the future given their undeniable quality.