Marcus Rashford scored Man Utd’s 11th goal of the season in a 1-0 triumph over Wolves on New Year’s Eve.
Man Utd star Marcus Rashford has responded to Roy Keane’s (right) concerns in the best possible way. (Image: Getty Images and Sky Sports.)
Marcus Rashford continued his sparkling run of form against Wolves at Molineux on Saturday, scoring for the third game running to seal a 1-0 win for Man Utd.
After being dropped to the bench as punishment for oversleeping and missing an important team meeting, the academy graduate came on at half-time and bagged his 11th goal of the campaign with a little under 15 minutes of normal time left on the clock. His effort, which marked his sixth goal in the Premier League this season, lifted United into the top four for the first time this season.
It was the best response that the 25-year-old could have possibly given after Erik ten Hag made the decision to drop him, once again highlighting that nobody, however important or crucial they are, will come between him and his strict rules. The Dutchman has laid down the gauntlet several times this season, making it clear to his players that he is not to be messed with.
But although the Dutchman is a strict disciplinarian and demands incredibly high standards, his no-nonsense approach has worked wonders on Rashford. His United career has been resurrected this season, so much so that he has now become their go-to man for goals in big moments.
After scoring just five times in all competitions last season, Rashford faced a defining summer in his United career. Some pundits tipped him to leave, suggesting that it was the only way that he could get his career back on track.
Ten Hag, though, has taken him under his wing and allowed him to flourish again. Although he has played the best of his football this term, just as he so often has, on the left flank, he has also shouldered the responsibility of spearheading the attack through the middle. He has also operated on the opposite wing a handful of times, too.
Although he has not been as potent and as threatening away from the left, his versatility has meant that he has had to mix his game up, resulting in him scoring a different variety of goals so far this season. Whilst he scored trademark, run-in-behind efforts against the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal, his header against West Ham United and strikes against Aston Villa (in the Carabao Cup) and Wolves were as a result of him showing fierce determination and desire to either connect with a ball into the penalty area or retain possession, showing real hunger, before getting a shot off, all whilst being tightly followed by an opposing defender.
And it is that hunger and desire, as well as his different range of goals, that has been most pleasing about his renaissance under Ten Hag. He has found a new lease of life and it has resulted in him playing with a smile on his face once again.
It has also meant that he has delivered the best possible response to the concerns former United captain Roy Keane expressed towards the end of last season. The Irishman, after Rashford was left on the bench for United’s 3-0 win over Brentford at Old Trafford back in May, questioned the England international’s hunger and endeavour, as well as his ability to mix his game up.
Marcus Rashford has been excellent so far this season for Man Utd. (Image: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images.)
“He seems short on confidence, I go back, I think he’s taken his eye off the ball, with all his off-the-field stuff,” said Keane, speaking on Sky Sports last year. “He’s got that experience, but he doesn’t mix his game.
“Even when he’s playing through the middle, I said he plays like a child. It’s like he’s not learnt from the game.
“I think he’s lost the eye of the tiger and he’s struggling to get it back. I think the hunger, he’s got to get the hunger back and make runs like [Anthony] Elanga, Rashford has lost that hunger which is huge for a player.”
Given United, after beating Brentford, had just two fixtures left of a disastrous 2021/22 campaign, and Rashford played no part in either of them, his transformation in such a short space of time under Ten Hag has been remarkable. His goals, of course, have been the highlights of his work so far this term, but his desire and facial expressions, proving how happy he currently is, are perhaps even more important.
Ten Hag has enabled a highly talented individual to find his feet again and kick-on. The Dutchman deserves tremendous praise for that, but so does Rashford for hitting back at his critics in the best way possible.
source: https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/
