Marcus Rashford’s tale is a testament to resilience and resurgence, a narrative that underscores the persistent spirit of the beautiful game. In an intriguing piece by The Guardian, he recently confessed to the thought of parting ways with Manchester United, his boyhood club, during the turbulent transition in the summer. Yet, the arrival of Dutch manager Erik ten Hag effectively halted his departure plans, paving the way for an extraordinary turnaround in Rashford’s fortunes.
A Season of Struggle Precedes Revival
Prior to Ten Hag’s appointment as Solskjær’s successor, the young English striker endured a challenging season. His tally stood at a disheartening five goals, with none coming after the January mark. This low ebb in his career sparked speculations of Paris Saint-Germain’s interest in securing his services. When questioned about his plans, Rashford reflected, “Before the manager [Ten Hag] came maybe a little bit, but it’s football, it happens… Everything is going to happen for a reason and he came to the club at the right time for me, the timing worked out.”
Ten Hag’s Influence: A Catalyst for Change
Ten Hag’s entry marked a significant shift in Rashford’s game. The ensuing season witnessed him racking up a formidable 30 goals, a feat not achieved by a United player since Robin van Persie a decade prior. The forward highlighted the role his new manager played in restoring his spark.
“Freedom – we were just a little bit rigid in the past… I wasn’t enjoying my football as much as I should be, as much I was used to enjoying it,” explained Rashford. “Just a little bit more freedom and a little bit more stability – that gives you the baseline to try and showcase your abilities. I enjoy scoring goals, making assists, playing in the forward areas and trying to cause a threat to the other team.”
Embracing the Pressure: Rashford’s Journey Towards Consistency
While expectations are high for Rashford to replicate his form in the upcoming season, he remains unfazed. He acknowledges that focus and concentration are key. “It’s concentration… If I can stay focused on that then I think I can definitely score more goals than I did last season. But I have to be in the goalscoring positions to get the chances, that’s the main focus,” Rashford stated confidently.
Ten Hag’s demanding approach seems to resonate with Rashford, who is eager to continue growing under the Dutch tactician. “He [Ten Hag] always wants you to improve, whether it’s physically or mentally… It’s important for development and you never really stop developing throughout your career,” he noted.
Striving for Excellence: Setting New Benchmarks
Rashford is not content with just scoring goals. He aims to be regarded in the same light as Manchester City’s Erling Haaland. “You do have to be consistent with it… Hopefully I can get more goals and do more, but I’ll be equally happy if we spread the goals out more and everyone gets five or six more goals and that means we’re doing better than last season,” he opined.
In his drive for progress, Rashford recognises the club’s ambitions under the new management. He perceives Ten Hag’s ambition and aims to ride that wave, pushing to improve both individually and as a team. “Now the conversation is a little bit different because I think it’s clear, the manager is very ambitious and he has been since the minute he stepped in… I’m hungry to keep improving and when the squad and the players and the staff keep improving and getting used to each other, pushing ourselves to be better than we were the year before, ultimately that’s the only way we’re going to get back to winning trophies consistently.”
As this narrative unravels, one can’t help but anticipate Rashford’s journey ahead. His metamorphosis under Ten Hag at Manchester United serves as a testament to the transformative power of the right mentorship at the right moment.
