Marcos Rojo Is A Clean Player – Jose Mourinho

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has said that Marcos Rojo is a “clean player” despite the defender receiving criticism for a challenge against Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

Rojo, 26, was booked for a two-footed tackle on Wilfried Zaha in the 38th minute on United’s 2-1 win, with the Argentina international shown a yellow card 10 days after being booked for a similar challenge on Everton’s Idrissa Gueye.

Palace manager Alan Pardew was upset that Rojo was not sent off, but Mourinho said of his player: “He’s playing really well, phenomenal.

“He’s a clean player, aggressive. His nature, Argentinian, is emotional but very clean, and he’s playing probably the best football of his career.

“I didn’t comment on David Luiz’s tackle on Marouane Fellaini, or Danny Rose’s tackle on Henrikh Mkhitaryan. So I’m not going to comment on this one.”

Former Premier League referee Howard Webb wrote in The Times: “Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo should have been shown a straight red card.

“His challenge on Wilfried Zaha was similar to his tackle on Idrissa Gueye at Everton earlier this month but with slightly less speed and intensity.

“That, and a desire not to overreact, may have been the only reason Craif Pawson showed a yellow card. There is no room for that kind of tackle in the game and referees would always be advised to deal with it by sending the player off.”