Friday 21 April 2017 18:43, UK
Jose Mourinho believes it would be illogical for England to take Marcus Rashford to this summer’s Under-21 European Championship.
Rashford fired Manchester United into the semi-finals of the Europa League with an extra-time winner against Anderlecht on Thursday night and is eligible to feature for Aidy Boothroyd's side in Poland this summer.
The 19-year-old is already a full international and became England's youngest player at a European Championship when he came on as a sub in the 2-1 win over against Wales in Lens last summer.
But Mourinho believes there is no merit in taking Rashford to the U21 Euros given his rapid progression since bursting onto the scene for United 14 months ago.
"I don't want to go in that direction," the United manager said when asked about Rashford playing for the U21s this summer.
"I just feel that when a player reaches a certain level, it doesn't make a lot of sense to drop levels.
"It's like now I am going to play in the under-23s to win, let's say a derby against Man City? No.
"Nicky Butt doesn't take him to play that game. He could by age, so when you reach a certain level - and he's reached that level for a long time - I don't think it makes sense, but the power is in their [England's] hands."
United's relief at reaching the Europa League semi-finals was tempered by injuries to Marcos Rojo and Zlatan Ibrahimiovic in the win over Anderlecht.
The pair join Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Juan Mata on the sidelines - a situation which Mourinho says has left United in "trouble".
But the Portuguese hope United will be lifted by Wayne Rooney's imminent return from an ankle injury before revealing that he hopes Mata can make a surprise return to action this season.
"We are in trouble," Mourinho said.
"In this moment, Eric Bailly played six matches in a row - 540 minutes in a row. We lost Marcos Rojo. We don't have Jones, we don't have Smalling. We are in trouble.
"Now we lose Zlatan too. But in attack, we have options. Rooney is coming. Let's see if Mata can also return before the end of the season. Let's see what happens."
