Jose Mourinho picked Manchester United hero Marcus Rashford because of his form in training

Jose Mourinho explained that he had recently left Marcus Rashford out of the Manchester United team due to performances in training, after the young forward bolstered his claims for a starting place with both goals in the 2-1 win over Liverpool.

The goals marked Rashford’s first goals of 2018, after a spell mostly on the sidelines. Responding to questions about why he hadn’t been in the team, Mourinho pointed to what is happening on the training ground, and said he was picked against Liverpool for improved displays at Carrington.

“He scored two goals in a big match against a top-class opponent,” the Portuguese said. “Of course he was fundamental. The first chance he had he got it he scored. The last few months it was not happening for him and he was feeling it a bit in terms of confidence. Today we trusted him and felt it could be adapted to his qualities. He is improving a lot in training.

“Sometimes media, fans, in relation to options, you are not in the training ground. You don’t see how well or bad players are training, the confidence, the mood. The mood with him was improving in the last weeks. I play him from half-time against Palace. The feelings were positive. It could also be a way to stop them to play a bit with their six and we thought that Marcus’ speed could be important. Also with Martial injured, it was not a doubt between one or the other. It was one choice.”

Mourinho said his goals gave United the “perfect result”, but not quite a perfect performance. United could have gone 3-0 before half-time through a Juan Mata chance, but instead suffered a nervy second half.

“Three points is very important. Perfect performance, I wouldn’t go so far. Perfect in relation to what the game gave us. In the first half it gave us the opportunity to be aggressive and direct and fast and score goals and probably more. A third Mata goal would be amazing and fantastic. Second half gave us a different match.”

Mourinho meanwhile joked that Eric Bailly scored an “amazing goal” in diverting the ball into his own net, but picked out the centre-half and substitute Marouane Fellaini for praise. Bailly did appear to pick up an injury in the second half, but persevered until the end.

“I don’t know,” Mourinho said of the centre-half’s fitness. “Fantastic performance, amazing goal, great spirit, to cope with the goal and the injuries.

“I want to praise every player but I would go to Marouane Fellaini, knee surgery, return before time, he did a fantastic work to recover, he arrive to train a couple of days ago and he put himself forward to play.”