sportbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Jose Mourinho Responds To Marcus Rashford's Claim That He Taught Manchester United Players How To Win Penalties

Jose Mourinho Responds To Marcus Rashford's Claim That He Taught Manchester United Players How To Win Penalties

"Go to Opta, go to my history as a manager," said Mourinho. "Compare numbers and take your conclusion."

Thomas Harvey

Thomas Harvey

Jose Mourinho has dismissed Marcus Rashford's claim that he taught the Manchester United players how to win penalties during his time as Old Trafford boss.

United have been awarded 27 penalties in 118 games in all competitions under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, according to Opta.

That's in comparison to 19 in 143 games under Solskjaer's predecessor Mourinho.



It led to Rashford saying: "I remember when Jose was manager, there were five or six times where I should've had a penalty.

"Jose ended up saying to me if you're not savvy about the way you do it then you're not going to get it.

"After that we started to get a few. In terms of development, you have to learn it and understand it."

In response, Mourinho, now manager of Tottenham, summoned statistical evidence.

"Stats," replied Mourinho. "Go to Opta, go to my history as a manager in my more or less 10 Premier League seasons. Compare numbers and take your conclusions.

"It's not an attacking player that is savvy. The suggestion means something that I hate. The good attacking players attack defenders, and the defenders make or don't make penalties.

"If you dive it's a yellow card, or it should be a yellow card and should be criticised by the football world."


Image: PA
Image: PA

Rashford received the Football Writers' Association 2021 tribute award on Thursday and was asked why United might be perceived to be getting more than their fair share of spot-kicks.

The question came in the wake of Jurgen Klopp declaring that United had been given "more penalties in two years than I had in five and a half years" as Liverpool manager.

"As a forward line, we want to go and score goals," Rashford said. "When you're making runs in behind or you're dribbling with the ball and if you see a challenge coming, you don't want to get tackled because you're looking at an opportunity to score.

"There's no way you're going to let somebody take the ball off you, so for me it's just a case of us wanting to score goals and the teams wanting to defend goals - and you know, penalties can happen."

Rashford believes the connection he has established with fellow frontmen Anthony Martial and Bruno Fernandes make United "more dangerous" as they go in search of silverware this season.


Image: PA
Image: PA

The trio have been at the forefront of the club's rise up the Premier League in recent weeks and Rashford said: "Ultimately we're more dangerous, we can score goals at any time, but we can do much better.

"I believe it's still the start of something which can go on to be an unbelievable connection.

"The forward line in general which we have - we can play in so many different ways, in different positions with different personnel.

"If we want to win trophies, then you need versatility. I believe that we have one of the most versatile squads in the Premier League, especially going forward.

"We're a team which is still improving, we're in a good run of form, so we have to just try to keep focusing on ourselves and do the best we can do. As long as we do that, you walk off the pitch with no regrets."

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Jose Mourinho, Manchester United, Marcus Rashford, tottenham