Even before Erik ten Hag was appointed, it was widely reported that he was a fan of Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford and that he dropped out of the team’s selection in recent Premier League games, it seems those reports were correct.
Rashford experienced a lot of backlash towards the end of last season, as he was often seen walking down the pitch, not running quickly to balls and struggling to find the back of the net.
Pre-season and with a new manager at the helm, Rashford stood out, especially when he was given the captaincy in a friendly. He had a new chance at life while playing intelligent football and the team was forging.
Despite United’s shaky start to the season, Rashford is in the best form he has been in twelve months.
He has started all six Premier League games so far, scoring three goals and racking up two assists.
He’s averaging 2.5 shots per game, which is much better than Red teammate Anthony Elanga, and he’s only missed one big chance in those six games.
As for his passing accuracy, he’s averaging 73% per game, but there’s room for improvement in his accuracy from long passes and crosses, as the latter is only 29% accurate.
He has completed 53% of his dribbles, double what his younger team-mate Athony Elanga has completed, but has lost possession 11.5 times.
It could be that, compared to last season, Rashford appear to be on fire, playing a crucial role in United’s recent league success and while we may enjoy his current form, he is still capable of more.
At the moment, there aren’t many players who can compete against Rashford for his role in the starting eleven.
Ronaldo, although he has only been a substitute in the league, creates chances but does not convert them and his pressure leaves much to be desired. Rashford’s racing and his hunger to help the team seem more desirable to Ten Hag.
Confidence has always been a big issue for Rashford, but if he can maintain the form he has been having, his overall game will certainly improve if the team and fans support him and his style of play.
