Carragher calls Rashford’s and Martial’s displays ‘embarrassing’

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has criticised youngsters Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial for failing to take over from Zlatan Ibrahimovic who was out with suspension, Metro reports.

The 35-year-old has been United’s most influential figure this season having scored 20 goals in 35 appearances so far and United have struggled to get all the points in his absence. Carragher believes these players have let down their manager Jose Mourinho.

“With United, you know their problem is not scoring goals.” He said. “You think of the players they have in those attacking positions, they are very expensive players.

“There’s talk of Griezmann coming in, but Martial was a lot of money. Rashford certainly was last year’s wonderkid, and I think he’ll be a fantastic player. Mikhtarian is there – we are talking about top-level players.

“It is strange that they are having these major problems, without Zlatan, that personality, that presence, I think it’s a bit embarrassing for those players who are playing that they feel the need a 35-year-old centre forward.

“It’s a big worry they are still relying on a man who’d been one of the best players in the league this season, but he’s 35. The fact these younger players are in there and can’t seem to cope when he’s not there, it doesn’t bode well for them.

Manchester United are now five points behind fourth Manchester City after being held to a goalless draw by West Brom at Old Trafford on Saturday. Mourinho blamed the draw on the lack of consistency of his creative players Rashford, Mikhtarian and Martial.

The Portuguese, however, will be pleased by the return of his prolific striker for United’s clash with Everton on Tuesday.