On-loan Barcelona forward Marcus Rashford has opened up about his time under former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, revealing how the Portuguese coach’s relentless focus on winning shaped his career.
Mourinho, who managed United from 2016 to 2018, brought silverware back to Old Trafford, claiming the Community Shield, EFL Cup, and Europa League in his first season, followed by a second-place Premier League finish in 2017-18.
However, his tenure ended in December 2018 after a poor run of form and tensions within the squad.
Despite the mixed results, Rashford, who was a regular under Mourinho, admits the experience provided a valuable shift in mindset.
Jose Don’t Care– Rashford on Mourinho’s Mentality
Speaking to Gary Lineker and Micah Richards on “The Rest is Football” podcast, Rashford contrasted Mourinho’s approach with that of previous managers, particularly Louis van Gaal.
“Up until Jose, I’d never had a manager so fixated on winning,” Rashford said. “Van Gaal wanted to win but also wanted beautiful football. Jose don’t care, as long as you win. If you play well, great, but if you win, you move on to the next game.”
Rashford admitted that initially, the lack of focus on style confused him. But after six months, he learned to respect Mourinho’s philosophy, recognising how it contributed to his growth as a professional.
Rashford’s Journey Since Mourinho
Since Mourinho’s departure, Rashford’s career at United has seen highs and lows. He won the FA Cup in the 2023-24 season under Erik ten Hag and reached the Europa League final in 2021.
However, after falling out of favour in the 2024-25 season, Rashford left on loan to Barcelona, where he is currently seeking to revitalise his form in the 2025-26 campaign.
