A Manchester United player, Marcus Rashford has apologised to his team-mates on Sunday night after he was sent off for the first time in his career in the win at Burnley.
Jose Mourinho said Rashford was a “naive boy” for reacting angrily to a challenge from Phil Bardsley and thrusting his forehead into the former United defender’s face in United’s 2-0 win at Turf Moor.
The incident sparked an ugly melee before referee Jon Moss booked Bardsley and showed Rashford a straight red card just 10 minutes after coming on as a substitute.
“Emotions got the better of me,” Rashford tweeted afterwards. “I shouldn’t have reacted like that. Sorry to everyone at the club and all the fans.”
The 20-year-old England international now faces an automatic three-match ban for violent conduct, but Mourinho claimed that Bardsley’s clever handling of the situation also played a part.
‘I would say it was naive,’ said the United boss.
‘It was a kid and a very experienced man. Bardsley’s been in the game for 20 years and Marcus is a naive boy.
‘Moss had a good game, a good performance, really. I think the same as the two assistants.
‘In that action, the only thing I can say is that probably the experience of Bardsley against the impulse and naivety of a guy that is in top football for about three years but is still a young kid.
‘Harsh? I don’t know. It could be a yellow card for both and keep going.’
