Why Jose Mourinho is reluctant to pair Anthony Martial with Marcus Rashford - but may do it again anyway

A simple look at what happens when Jose Mourinho
pairs Anthony Martial with Marcus Rashford tells us
why he's so reluctant to do so.
Manchester United's record with the young forwards
together isn't anywhere near the standard they've set
so far this season.
But regardless, the Red Devils boss hinted he could
start them both in the same side for the second week
running against Benfica, reports the Manchester
Evening News.
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Some United supporters booed the decision to
withdraw Rashford for Martial against Tottenham on
Saturday, however the Frenchman was applauded and
serenaded as he warmed up in front of the Stretford
End before he emerged to score the winner.
Martial and Rashford have started just 11 games
together and of the five Premier League matches
United have drawn four and lost one.
The only victories were against Football League clubs
Reading, Blackburn and Burton Albion, as well as last
week's Carabao Cup victory at Swansea.
United lost their only European tie Martial and
Rashford lined up together at Feyenoord at the start
of last season but Mourinho suggested they could get
partner each other again after starting up front in
south Wales.
"We played Marcus and Anthony together in Swansea
one week ago," Mourinho explained. "So yes they can
play together, so that's no problem, what we cannot
do is play with 12 and we cannot play with everybody
at the same time, but we did.
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"So we can repeat against Benfica or repeat in any
other match, nobody here thinks about any other
match than Benfica, nobody here thinks about
Chelsea, so it's Benfica, Champions League and only
Champions League."
Victory over Benfica on Tuesday evening would all but
secure United's qualification for the Champions
League knockout stage and Mourinho aims to seal
their passage through as soon as possible.
"Our aim tomorrow is to qualify," he added. "Ten
points would be okay to qualify, but our main aim is
to qualify first in the group. The statistics are what
they are but Basel have had good results against
CSKA and Benfica, a draw is not bad, but Benfica will
give us a difficult match.
"They have their own ambition and pride and they will
try to win, we just want to get to the last 16 by
finishing first in the group."

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