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Marcus Rashford Explains How Jose Mourinho Taught Manchester United Players To Win Penalties

Marcus Rashford Explains How Jose Mourinho Taught Manchester United Players To Win Penalties

“After that, we started to get a few penalties..."

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

Manchester United's penalty record in the Premier League continues to be a huge topic of debate amongst fans and now, Marcus Rashford has joined in the discussion with a rather controversial take.

The 23-year-old was honoured for his outstanding work on and off the pitch with the FWA tribute award this week.

And shortly after picking up the award, the England international spoke to FWA Chair Carrie Brown about numerous subjects, including former boss Jose Mourinho.


In the interview above, Rashford, who has only taken one of United's spot kicks this season, with January signing Bruno Fernandes taking the majority of them, explained how Mourinho taught him to be more "savvy" in the penalty area during his time at Old Trafford.

"As a forward line, we want to go and score goals, when you are making runs in behind or dribbling with the ball and if you see a challenge coming, you don't want to get tackled, because you are looking at an opportunity to score a goal." he told FWA official.

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

"There have been times when we have probably not got penalties. I remember when Jose [Mourinho] was manager, there were five or six times where I should have had a penalty and Jose ended up saying to me: 'If you are not savvy about the way you do it, then you are not going to [get] it.'

"After that, we started to get a few penalties. It was something in terms of development, you have to learn that and understand it."

Mourinho
Mourinho

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp recently brought up United's penalty record after his side were denied two potential spot kicks in their loss to Southampton.

"I hear now that Manchester United had more penalties in two years than I had in five-and-a-half years. I've no idea if that's my fault, or how that can happen." he told per Sky Sports.

"But it's no excuse for the performance. We cannot change it, we have to respect the decisions. But we can change our performance. That's our focus now."

Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg, meanwhile, has told Klopp to 'stop being a hypocrite' about penaltie as Liverpool host Manchester United this weekend.

"Jurgen Klopp must be getting worried, because his comments last week about Manchester United and penalties were straight out of Sir Alex Ferguson's playbook," the English official wrote in his Daily Mail column.

"It was mind games - an attempt to influence referee Paul Tierney and get inside his head before a huge match between Liverpool and United this Sunday.

"Klopp was correct when he said United have won more penalties in two years than Liverpool have in his five and a half at Anfield. He was smart, because his comments could not get him into trouble with the authorities.

"But let's be clear: there is no conspiracy on the part of referees and officials. Was Klopp insinuating there is? Or was he suggesting United have players who are encouraged to dive?

"If his intention was the former, then I've got no time for that. It simply is not true."

Clattenburg gave three penalties to Liverpool at Old Trafford in one match in 2014. Image: PA Images
Clattenburg gave three penalties to Liverpool at Old Trafford in one match in 2014. Image: PA Images

Thoughts on Rashford's comments about penalties? Is Jurgen Klopp playing mind games ahead of Liverpool's clash against United at the weekend?

Let us know in the comments.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Spurs, Football News, Jose Mourinho, Football, Manchester United, Man utd, Premier League, Marcus Rashford, Penalty