Manchester United legend Gary Neville says there is room on the Old Trafford pitch for both Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcus Rashford.
A starring role in Saturday night’s 2-0 win over league leaders Chelsea – which included the opening goal – has some Red Devils fans crying out for the 19-year-old to be given more opportunities up front.
The form of the mercurial Ibrahimovic has pushed Rashford onto the bench or out wide for most of the season, with the Swede registering 17 goals so far in the English top-flight.
Ex-defender Neville believes that both forwards add different dynamics to Jose Mourinho squad, but questioned why the manager is not looking to develop a number of options as well as Ibrahimovic, who is no doubt nearing the end of his career.
“Would Zlatan have done to Chelsea what Rashford did? Absolutely no chance,” he said in an interview with Sky Sports.
“But would Rashford have done in that EFL Cup final what Zalatan did? Probably no chance, it would be very difficult.
“There’s still a place for Zlatan. I used to like being part of a squad that had four strikers. Actually you had a Zlatan, you might have had a Chicharito [Javier Hernandez] to come on and you had a Rashford.
“Why can’t you have three or four strikers and pick from a pool? It’s not like Zlatan plays or nothing. On Sunday he looked delighted when the team scored and he worked when he came on. I don’t see why it has to be an either or, they can play together potentially.
“I’d like to see Zlatan stay in a different role to what he’s had this season where it’s him or nothing.
“I’d like to see him phased over another season whereby [Anthony] Martial, Rashford and maybe someone else comes in and you see a changing of the guard, but you still have the experience that is required there.”
United will now turn their attention to the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie against Anderlecht on Friday morning.
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