The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Marcus Rashford

  • Lukaku to return early to help depleted Man United – Mourinho

    Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku has curtailed his vacation and will join Manchester United at the start of their Premier League campaign, manager Jose Mourinho has said.

    Mourinho called for the club’s World Cup participants to shorten their rest days after last month’s tournament to help United.

    The club have also been hindered by injuries, and hope to avoid a poor start to the league season.

    England duo Phil Jones and Marcus Rashford were already set to return early and United will now be boosted by Lukaku’s decision.

    Man United prepare to host Leicester City in their first league game on Aug. 10.

    “We will have (Victor) Lindelof who started training two days ago,” Mourinho said after United’s 2-1 win over Real Madrid in the pre-season International Champions Cup (ICC) on Wednesday.

    “Marcus Rashford, Jones and Lukaku are coming back three days early to try to be available for the team.”

    The Portuguese boss praised his senior players for the intensity they showed in United’s pre-season tour but insisted the fixtures did not reveal anything new strategically.

    “I didn’t learn anything (tactically). I know what (Ander) Herrera is, I know what (Juan) Mata is, I know what (Alexis) Sanchez is, I know what they are…

    “I know the kids need time to grow up,” Mourinho said.

    “The boys tried everything, they gave everything, they know we have to try to fight for the best result but tactically it means nothing.”

    United have won two of their five pre-season fixtures so far and will be keen to make a quick start in their quest to win silverware this season.

    Mourinho was unsure, however, if Anthony Martial would return in time to play Sunday’s final friendly against Bayern Munich.

    The Frenchman left the team’s pre-season tour early to attend the birth of his daughter.

  • Lukaku criticism baffles Mourinho

    Lukaku criticism baffles Mourinho

    Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho has asked club fans to support striker Romelu Lukaku, saying the Belgium international has been subjected to unfair criticism.

    After scoring seven goals in as many league games, Lukaku has not scored in the following three matches and his fading goal scoring exploits, along with his underwhelming record in big games has been criticised.

    Mourinho reckoned Lukaku deserved more support after an assist in each of his last two league games, the most recent of which led to the winning goal in last Saturday’s 1-0 victory over third-placed Tottenham.

    “I would like the supporters to explain to me why they don’t support him so much.

    “Because he gives everything and I think it is not fair when scoring the goal or not scoring the goal (he) makes the whole difference,” Mourinho told the club’s website.

    “I don’t think it is fair at all. So, I‘m a bit disappointed – but not with him. With him (I am) very pleased.”

    Mourinho’s decision to withdraw Marcus Rashford, rather than Lukaku, for Anthony Martial in the 70th minute against Spurs attracted loud boos from the Old Trafford faithful.

    The Portuguese boss responded to critics by holding a finger to his lips after the final whistle, but was puzzled by the fans’ dissent.

    “I really don’t understand some reactions why, “Mourinho added. ”Are they Red Devils? Sometimes I don’t know because they (Lukaku and Martial) work amazingly well.

    “Sometimes he (Martial) starts the match and his contribution is good… the same as Rashford, the same as Lukaku.”

    Mourinho said defender Marcos Rojo was likely to return from his long-term knee injury after the November international break, but set no return date for midfielder Paul Pogba, who injured his hamstring last month.

    United trail local rivals Manchester City by five points at the top of the league table and host Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday followed by a league trip to fourth-placed Chelsea on Sunday.

    NAN

  • Sigurdsson equaliser damages Manchester united top four hope

    Sigurdsson equaliser damages Manchester united top four hope

    Manchester United suffered a big blow to their top-four hopes as Swansea City held them to yet another draw at Old Trafford.

    Gylfi Sigurdsson free kick cancelled out Wayne Rooney penalty to secure a 1-1 draw for Swansea City at Old Trafford that damages Manchester United’s top-four ambitions.

    Rooney swept home from the spot moments before half-time after Marcus Rashford had gone to ground which was a little bit controversial with the replay showing that there was  no contact from Lukasz Fabianski, but Swansea’s set-piece maestro stole a point that could wreck the hosts’ hopes of qualifying for the Champions League through domestic competition.

    Swansea, who are now just two points adrift of safety in 18th place, looked the brighter of the teams for much of the first half but chances were limited before the penalty incident towards the end of the half time.

     

  • Rashford unveils three lions new away kit

    Rashford unveils three lions new away kit

     

    Marcus Rashford is the poster boy both for England’s new away kit and his country’s footballing future.

    A new, two-tone Nike strip will replace the current red version as the Three Lions chase a place at next summer’s World Cup in Russia.

    The 19-year-old has been selected to be the poster boy for the new Nike kit as England chase a place at the 2018 World Cup

    England will wear the kit for the first time in a fixture on Wednesday when they face Germany in a friendly in Dortmund.

    Rashford, who has emerged as an exciting option for England following a remarkable 12-month journey since his professional debut last February, represents a new generation of talent for the Three Lions.

    The teenager scored on his debuts for both United and then for England in a friendly against Australia in the build-up to Euro 2016.

    Rashford was one of very few high points for England at the tournament as they were embarrassingly knocked out by Iceland.

    Speaking about that disappointment to the Player’s Tribune, Rashford said the post-match words of Wayne Rooney have stuck with him since.

    The kits will cost the same as the Euro 2016 ones did – £101 for a full adult kit and £60 for the shirt, £84 for a child’s full strip

    He said: ‘When we were knocked out by Iceland at the Euros, it was a massive disappointment. We were all sitting around in the dressing room after the match, not sure what to think. But then Wayne gets up. And he says one thing – “Keep your head up. We’ve got a lot to fight for in the future. Look forward”.

    ‘He says it to each individual person. One by one, he goes up to us and looks us in the eye. So that’s where we are now. Our heads are up and we’re fighting for the future.

    Rashford, who started for United on Sunday, is one of only three striking options available for England in Germany.

  • Man Utd striker Rashford to join England senior squad

    Man Utd striker Rashford to join England senior squad

    Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford will be named in Gareth Southgate’s England squad on Thursday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 19-year-old was initially expected to feature for the England Under-21 side in friendlies against Germany and Denmark next weekend.

    But with England forwards Harry Kane and Wayne Rooney both ruled out through injury, Rashford will be called up.

    England face Germany away in a friendly before a World Cup qualifier against Lithuania at Wembley on 26 March.

    Rashford made a goal-scoring debut for England in a 2-1 win over Australia in May last year and has collected six senior caps.

    He was a late inclusion for Manchester United in their 1-0 FA Cup defeat by Chelsea on Monday, having been omitted from the initial squad due to illness.

    England captain Rooney was ruled out of Manchester United’s trip to the capital with a leg injury sustained in a training ground collision.

    Also, Tottenham striker Harry Kane went off with an ankle injury against Millwall on Sunday.

    Spurs said the injury is similar to the one Kane picked up against Sunderland on 18 Sept. 2016.

     

  • Fenerbahce 2–1 Man Utd: Pogba injured as Emenike enjoys win

    Fenerbahce 2–1 Man Utd: Pogba injured as Emenike enjoys win

    Emmanuel Emenike was on the winning side as Turkish giants Fenerbahce defeated Manchester United 2-1 in the Europa Cup match played this evening.

    Senegalese international Moussa Sow gave the visitors the lead inside the first two minutes as he met a delightful cross from Hasan Ali Kaldirim with a sensational overhead kick from just the edge of the box to make it 1-0.

    The Red Devils lost Paul Pogba in the first half as he went down under a heavy challenge from Souza and was replaced by Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

    Fenerbahce won a freekick on the edge of the United box and Lens curled the ball past David de Gea. Jose Mourinho immediately sent on Henrik Mkhitaryan for youngster Marcus Rashford.

    Fenerbahce substitue, Emmanuel Emenike was through on goal just seconds after his introduction from the bench, but the former Nigeria international could not take the ball in his stride and was eventually denied by a mixture of Daley Blind and De Gea.

    Emenike continued to look the most likely on the break as Fenerbahce went in search of a killer third goal, but he was once again kept out by De Gea before falling agonisingly short of tapping home a low cross from Lens at the far post.

    Those missed opportunities almost came back to haunt Dick Advocaat’s side when Rooney drilled a 25-yard piledriver into the top corner with just one minute left of normal time, moving within two goals of Sir Bobby Charlton in United’s all-time goalscoring list and level with Ruud van Nistelrooy as the club’s top scorer in European competition with 38.

  • Euro 2016: Rashford, Sturridge in England 23-man squad

    Euro 2016: Rashford, Sturridge in England 23-man squad

    Manchester United’s teenage striker, Marcus Rashford, has been named in Roy Hodgson’s 23-man England squad for the 2016 European Championship in France.

    Rashford, 18, scored on his international debut in the 2-1 friendly victory over Australia on Friday.

    Liverpool striker, Daniel Sturridge is also included, but Newcastle United’s Andros Townsend and Leicester City’s Danny Drinkwater both missed out, the BBC reports.

    England faces Portugal in the team last Euro 2016 warm-up match on Thursday.

    Hodgson’s side begin its campaign in France by playing Russia on June 11, before meeting Wales on June 16 and Slovakia on June 20.

    Rashford, who signed a new four-year contract with Manchester United on Monday, only made his first-team debut on February 25, but scored eight goals in 18 club games to earn an international call-up.

    Sturridge, 26, missed England’s last two friendly matches but did take part in a training session on Monday.

    He also trained at Watford’s training ground on Tuesday, along with Liverpool team-mate Jordan Henderson and Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, with all three considered fully fit.

    The squad:

    Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), Fraser Forster (Southampton), Tom Heaton (Burnley).

    Defenders: Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones (Everton), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur), Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool).

    Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Ross Barkley (Everton), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), James Milner (Liverpool), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal).

    Strikers: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United).