Marcus Rashford has played an incredible number of minutes– Jose Mourinho

The Three Lions star was given his debut by former Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal.

Jose Mourinho was his usual self today during Manchester United's press conference ahead of the upcoming gameweek. He went on a tirade explaining that he has given England international Marcus Rashford an incredible amount of match-time under him.

During the current Premier League season, the youngster has just started one fixture and has amassed a total of just 122 minutes, which has further been affected by a three-match ban for headbutting Burnley's Phil Bardsley in the last match. Meanwhile, in contrasting terms, he has found a regular place in Gareth Southgate's England squad during the UEFA Nations League, with goals against both Spain and Switzerland.

During the conference, the former Real Madrid coach defended himself by stating, "In the season 2016/17, Marcus Rashford played 32 Premier League matches, 11 Europa League matches including the final, three FA Cup matches, six League Cup matches including the final, 53 appearances. 

If you want to take the minutes of play, he played 3,068 minutes. If you want to divide that by 90 minutes of the matches, he played 34.2 matches of 90 minutes. In the 2017/18 season, he played 35 Premier League matches, eight in the Champions League, five in the FA Cup including the final, three League Cup matches and the European Super Cup final. He played a total of 52 matches with 2, 676 minutes. If you divide that by 90 it gives 29.7 matches," the tactician explained.

He further added in his defence, "So, with me in two seasons, he had 105 appearances, 5, 744 minutes, 63.7 matches of 90 minutes including five finals. So, the people that are speaking about his minutes I think they are a bit confused."

Funnily, he even began to tease some of his club's rivals by comparing the 20-year-old's development to some of the other top English youngsters at rival outfits. He said, "Marcus Rashford is not Dominic Solanke. He is not Ruben Loftus-Cheek. He is not Dominic Calvert-Lewein. He is Marcus Rashford - a Manchester United player, with an incredible number of appearances and an incredible number of minutes played at the highest level in the best possible competitions. 

So, Manchester United supporters, for you and just for you to know what we are doing with Marcus Rashford, with Luke Shaw, with Jesse Lingard, with Scott McTominay, that is what we are doing here."

ALSO READ:

• I am one of the greatest managers in the world- Jose Mourinho

• Paul Pogba's agent and Jose Mourinho hit back at Scholes criticism

• Surely I am going to return to coaching soon- Zinedine Zidane amidst Manchester United interests

Since his senior United debut, Rashford has made 126 appearances and has scored 32 goals. He first appeared for the Old Trafford club against Midtjylland. Supporting Rashford's character, the former Porto coach said, "The kid is a good kid. The kid is a good player. The kid knows what Manchester United did for him, starting in the academy, then Mr Van Gaal's support, then my support and the club's support and the new contract and the new shirt and being selected for every single match since I am here."

He expressed the belief that Rashford should be happy with the pace of his development, despite much criticism about it. Regarding the forward, the "Special One" concluded, "Marcus Rashford was selected for every single match. He was never one day out of selection because of my decision. He knows and that is the most important thing. But again, media is very important and I think it is very important that Manchester United supporters know the truth. That is why I am going so specific about these numbers."

[KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS]

Earlier Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher had expressed the view that the Three Lions star might have to leave United to become a world-class player. But, Mourinho believes that this is not the case and that Rashford has a lot to offer and still has a lot of time.