Why Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho persuaded Marcus Rashford to keep a No 9 on his back
England whizzkid told that the figure 9 is especially significant for any aspiring striker - as it's what goalscorers wear
JOSE MOURINHO persuaded Marcus Rashford to keep a number nine on his back - because that's what goalscorers wear.
The England striker actually sports No19 - Romelu Lukaku is No9 - but was set to pick an entirely different number.
When Rashford broke into Manchester United's first-team under Louis van Gaal he was No39 in the squad list.
On Mourinho's arrival last summer he was happy for his young charge to make a change, but insisted the number nine should be part of the package.
Rashford will certainly need to step up to the plate this season.
Yes, Lukaku has arrived for £75million from Everton, but there is still the void to be filled from the loss of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney.
But Rashford insists he is up to the challenge.
He told the Manchester Evening News: “It is obviously going to be different - but there was a time when they weren’t the people they were.
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“We have to change and develop to become what they were.
“Season by season I have different aims and responsibilities to the team.
“This year hopefully I will take more responsibility on.
“You don’t look at it as just football - maturity is a massive part of how you develop on the pitch.
“That has been one of the main things for me - I have obviously matured.
“There is always pressure playing at United. I don’t think it changes. You put it on yourself.
“Year on year that will only increase. The responsibility that I put on myself is the thing that has changed.”
Cool customer Rashford, who has installed a £50,000 ice chanber in his home, does have the advantage of having seen both Ibrahimovic and Rooney up close.
Especially Ibrahimovic.
He added: "“We have different playing styles, so to take a lot from his game is difficult.
“There was a lot to learn from him, not only from the football side of things, but just his mentality and the way he trains.
“The way he prepares for the games.
“That’s what I took. You’ve got to look outside of just football and take from his personality and what makes him great.”
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