10th May, 2018
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is confident playmaker Paul Pogba and forward Marcus Rashford will stay at the English Premier League club next season.
France international Pogba has been routinely criticised for his performances this season after scoring six goals and providing 10 assists in 25 league appearances for second-placed Manchester United.
Media reports have linked the 25-year-old with a big-money move to France’s Paris St. Germain (PSG), among other top European outfits, in the close season transfer window.
“I think he’s going to be here next season,” Mourinho told reporters.
“I can give the guarantee that I don’t want him to leave. I can give you the guarantee that the club doesn’t want to sell him and I can give you the guarantee that we don’t have any approach from him, from his agent or from any club.
“So, in this moment, for me, he’s staying.”
England international Rashford has been used on the left wing for a majority of the campaign and has scored six goals in 33 league appearances for Manchester United.
But media reports have linked the 20-year-old with a loan move next season to gain experience.
“No,” Mourinho said when asked about a potential loan for Rashford. “What does he need to do to impress me? He impresses me.
“That’s the reason why he was selected for every match of the season, absolutely every match of the season and that’s why he played in so many of them. So, he doesn’t need to leave to play. He doesn’t need anything.”
Rashford has played the most games for Manchester United under Mourinho, featuring in 102 of the club’s 117 competitive matches since the Portuguese boss took charge in 2016.
Manchester United will be aiming to seal a second-place finish when they travel to West Ham United later on Thursday and end their league campaign at home to Watford on Sunday.
Mourinho will guide Manchester United against his former club Chelsea in the English FA Cup final on May 19.