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Eight-time Olympic gold medallist and Manchester United fan Usain Bolt gives his backing to Jose Mourinho as he notices changes at the club.

MANCHESTER - Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has launched a fierce defence of his use of Marcus Rashford by insisting "he is not Dominic Solanke."

The 20-year-old, who is suspended for Saturday's trip to Watford, scored twice for England during the international break, prompting suggestions he should play more regularly for his club.

But Mourinho, speaking at a news conference at Carrington on Friday, has hit back at his critics by reading off a pre-prepared list of Rashford's statistics since he took over as manager in 2016.

"Marcus Rashford is not Dominic Solanke," said Mourinho.

"He is not Ruben Loftus-Cheek, he is not Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

"He is Marcus Rashford, a Manchester United player, with an incredible number of appearances and an incredible number of minutes played at the highest level in the best possible competitions.

"So Manchester United supporters, for you and just for you, to know what we are doing with Marcus Rashford, that's what we are doing here."

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Meanwhile, Romelu Lukaku has defended Mourinho's confrontational style of management, and said that the Portuguese deserves respect for not hiding his true feelings like several Premier League bosses.

Mourinho has had strained relationships with some of his players at the club since taking charge in 2016, most notably with record signing Paul Pogba, but Lukaku said he preferred the manager to be honest.

"People need to appreciate that, at least there are people who are real in this world like him. Because most managers in the league, when they are not happy they try to find a way to seem happy," Lukaku told the BBC.

"You should respect that he wants to keep his personality and not shy away from confrontation. He wants us to improve. He's a normal guy ... he's cool with everybody.

"Sometimes footballers, we get soft. If I listen to players from back in the day and now, a manager cannot say what he wants to a player because you feel attacked.

"But I don't feel attacked, because that's who I am -- I am a tough man, but that doesn't come from football, that comes from my background.

"My relationship with him (Mourinho) is cool. He makes me laugh, he makes the players laugh, he's a real family guy. He fights for his players, but he's real."

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Source: espn.co.uk

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