Agency Report — Rio Ferdinand has rejected Jose Mourinho’s assertion that Marcus Rashford looks ‘completely lost’ when playing on the right flank.
The Manchester United star will be hoping to be named in Gareth Southgate’s starting XI for England’s opening group stage match against Croatia on Sunday.
Mourinho picked his own Three Lions side in anticipation for the match and caused a predictable stir when he chose to omit his former players Rashford and Luke Shaw.
The new Roma boss opted to pick Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish on the left and therefore didn’t select Rashford as he doesn’t believe he can play on the right.
“I think Grealish is untouchable and the best position for Grealish is coming from the left which creates a situation which is, for me, Rashford can only play there,” Mourinho told talkSPORT.
“I think when Rashford plays on the right he is completely lost. His dynamics on the right are totally broken, he doesn’t find it. He’s very good on the left, attacking spaces.”
Ferdinand moved to defend Rashford and pointed out that plenty of England’s attackers also look better cutting in off the left.
“I don’t think he looks broken, I just feel that he looks more comfortable on the left-hand side,” Ferdinand told the Metro.
“But I’d say the same about [Raheem] Sterling. Sterling looks better on the left, Grealish probably looks better on the left.
“I just think it’s more about Gareth Southgate talking to the players and making them understand that it’s a squad game.
“There’s going to be rotation, people are going to play out of position. But for the betterment of the team, make sure we go out there and we’re all positive.”
