Football
ESPN staff 8y

Man United's Marcus Rashford frustrated but accepts lack of chances

Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford says he is frustrated by his limited starting opportunities this season but said he isn't angry and understands that keeping all the players in the squad happy is a challenge for manager Jose Mourinho.

Rashford, 18, has started only one Premier League match so far this campaign, but he has been one of the team's bright spots in a season that has threatened to go off the rails in recent weeks after a bright start under Mourinho.

United rebounded from a three-game losing streak to beat Northampton 3-1 in the EFL Cup after having lost to Manchester City, Feyenoord and Watford in their previous three matches.

Rashford told Sky Sports: "It is frustrating, but I'm not angry that I'm not playing because I understand it's difficult. We have a lot of big players and a lot of players in my situation as well who are not getting the minutes they probably thought they deserved to get.

"But all of this is good for the squad because everyone is competing in training and it's improving us as players and as a squad. What the manager has done with the team and the players is a good thing."

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been the regular starter in Rashford's preferred central role up front, but the England international said Mourinho has been moving him around in training and giving him freedom to roam when he enters games.

"As a team, we have a good squad and we can compete for the titles this season. On a personal level, scoring a lot of goals is the main objective," Rashford said. "There's some games where your touch might be off, but that doesn't mean that you can't score goals and win the game for your team.

"I want to become the ultimate centre forward. I want to be able to play on the left, on the right and down the middle. To do that I need to improve my game down the sides because my positioning in those areas, where I haven't played since I was 12 or 13, is a bit off. The manager has been doing some work with me off the left and right, so I think he's trying to improve me in those areas.

"I'm just trying to play with freedom like I did last year, and the manager supports me with that. Like he did in the Hull [City] game, the manager just tells me to go and help the team win the game. I was here, there and everywhere during that game trying to find gaps and help the team win the game."

Manchester United face Premier League champions Leicester City on Saturday afternoon at Old Trafford.

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