Gordon calls Aguirre's foul-mouthed outburst a compliment and praises Rashford amid Barcelona rivalry

Anthony Gordon has described Javier Aguirre’s foul-mouthed sideline outburst during England’s World Cup fixture in Mexico City as a backhanded compliment, while also revealing that Marcus Rashford has gone out of his way to help him settle at Barcelona despite the two now being rivals for the same position.

Aguirre, who has since left his role as Mexico head coach, told Gordon to “f*** off” after the Newcastle winger burst past his full-back during the match. The moment quickly spread across social media, and Gordon addressed it directly in a media briefing this week.

“I remembered it. It’s a bit of fun,” Gordon said. “With all the heat and tension around the game it was a bit of fun. I’d just run the full-back down the line so it was a bit of a compliment from him. That’s how I took it anyway. He seemed like a good guy — he was talking to me and Jude throughout the game and there was a lot of tension, so to speak to me and Jude, I quite liked it.”

Gordon added that Aguirre is far from the first opposing manager to react that way to his pace. “Usually they say things like that when you’ve done something good and they give me a compliment — or a compliment in not such a nice way like that one. I’ve had it a couple of times.”

The 23-year-old also shed light on his relationship with Rashford following his £70m permanent move to the Nou Camp. Rashford spent last season on loan at Barcelona and has expressed a desire to remain at the club, which puts the two England wingers in direct competition both internationally and potentially at club level.

“He congratulated me as soon as he saw me,” Gordon said. “To be honest, he has been really helpful. I am trying to look for a house and he has helped me with things about the club, which is helpful as I have not been there yet.”

Gordon was equally generous in his assessment of Rashford as a person, pushing back on what he sees as an unfair public perception of his international teammate. “He’s a lovely person, very misunderstood I think from the outside. Very humble, just quite kid-like. He just loves playing football. You see him, he’s always got a ball doing kick-ups and stuff.”

On the competition between them, Gordon was measured but clear. “We’re in competition for a place. That’s football. At elite level you’re always going to have that and that usually serves me well, so I’m completely fine with that and I’m sure he is.”