MANCHESTER, England -- Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho believes the pressure on Marcus Rashford is "too high."
The striker has scored three goals in four games for England this season but his club form has been questioned after finding the net just once in 10 appearances. In the week that saw Rashford turn 21, his development at Old Trafford has again been the source of debate. It has led to suggestions he may have to leave the club he joined aged seven to realise his full potential.
But Mourinho has insisted Rashford is in the right place to nuture his talent while issuing a warning that it is unfair to expect too much from a player who is still learning.
"I think the pressure is probably too high," Mourinho told a news conference on Friday. "He just turned 21. How many players at 21 had more game time in a big club, for a big country and national team? How many players are getting this kind of opportunity to develop their potential? Not many."
Rashford has scored 33 goals in 133 games for United since making his debut as a teenager in February 2016. He has also been fast-tracked into the England team to play in the last two major tournaments and has already got winners' medals in the FA Cup, League Cup and the Europa League.
"I think he's having fantastic conditions to develop," said Mourinho. "He is still developing but he has fantastic conditions. Since [former United boss Louis] Van Gaal brought him to the team, then I come and he played with me a lot, played in the national team, playing the World Cup, playing the Europa League final, playing two FA Cup finals.
"He's having incredible opportunities to develop, which I think is what he's doing."