Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho sparks club-v-country row after Marcus Rashford was crocked in England dead rubber
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JOSE MOURINHO has sparked a club-v-country row with Gareth Southgate after Marcus Rashford was crocked for England.
But he carried on and played 72 minutes on a plastic pitch in Vilnius – and was only on the bench against Liverpool while Marouane Fellaini and Eric Bailly were ruled out.
Mourinho said: “We didn’t have many options, Fellaini injured in the national team, Eric Bailly injured in the national team, Marcus Rashford in the national team.
“We don’t have many options so there was not much to think about team selection.”
Rash was floored after a first-half collision with Edvinas Girdvainis at the LFF Stadium but continued.
Team-mate Phil Jones pulled out of the double-header against Slovenia and Lithuania - returning for the clash at Anfield on Saturday.
After the stalemate, Mourinho bemoaned a lack of options on the bench.
He said: "In the first half when we had energy in midfield we had no problems. We had total control and had the ball.
"In the second half I was feeling I needed my bench and I had no bench.
"I need to play against Henderson, Can and Wijnaldum. I need power and energy and I had no power or energy.
"I had Herrera and Matic and nobody else to try to make a difference.
"I don't like to speak about it. Pogba, Fellaini and Carrick are out three midfield players we don't have.
"I thought playing at home, seven points behind us, they [Liverpool] are going to change but they never did.
"I tried to answer with more speed in attack, fresh people in Lingard, but then we couldn't find solutions in the last 15, 20 minutes.
"I had no chance to bring the game in another direction. It's a positive point for us and once more we control the game. I think it was quite frustrating for them."
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