Manchester United forward, Marcus Rashford, has opened up on the managers who have shaped his career, singling out José Mourinho, Louis van Gaal, and Ole Gunnar Solskjær as the most influential.
In a video shared online, Rashford, who is currently on loan with Barcelona, spoke candidly about their contrasting approaches and how each left a lasting mark on his development.
“The managers that influenced me the most? I’d probably say José Mourinho, Van Gaal, and Ole Gunnar Solskjær,” Rashford said.
“They’re very different in their own ways, and it’s almost impossible to compare them. When you’re young and developing, each one teaches you something unique.”
The 26-year-old reflected on Van Gaal’s tactical ideals and Mourinho’s relentless winning mentality.
“Van Gaal was fixated on style, he wanted the game played beautifully, with structure and precision,” Rashford explained. ”
“José, on the other hand, didn’t care how pretty it was. For him, winning was everything. If we won, he moved straight on to the next match. He wouldn’t dwell on mistakes unless we lost, that’s when he’d really make his points clear.”
Rashford admitted Mourinho’s approach was a culture shock at first.
“At the beginning, I was frustrated,” he recalled. “I wasn’t playing well, and I didn’t understand why he wasn’t pointing out certain things after we’d won. But after six months, I started to see it differently. I learned to appreciate his focus on results, and I began to reap the rewards from his coaching.”
The England international also credited Solskjær for his man-management and trust in young players, noting that the Norwegian helped him take greater responsibility on the pitch.
Rashford’s reflections underline the different philosophies that have shaped his journey, from Van Gaal’s artistry to Mourinho’s pragmatism and Solskjær’s nurturing touch.
