The debate still remains on Rashford’s best position on the pitch. He can operate on the left flank and also as a striker.
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Marcus Rashford was one of the players of the 2022-23 season, helping Manchester United attain plenty of their goals. United began the campaign with a new manager in Erik ten Hag and were looking to bounce back from the disappointing 2021-22 season. Under ten Hag’s management, the Red Devils defied odds to finish third in the Premier League table. They also ended their long trophy drought by winning the EFL Cup and reaching the final of another in FA Cup.
One of the key reasons behind the positive campaign for Manchester United is the form of Marcus Rashford. He kept scoring goals at regular intervals to help the Red Devils have a good season. However, the debate still remains on Rashford’s best position on the pitch. He can operate on the left flank and also as a striker. His England manager Gareth Southgate is the latest to weigh in on the debate.
“At the moment, I still think he’s better from the left than as a no.9 but he’s definitely made progress as a nine this year and had a bigger impact. I always think he’s a good player as a sub, his mentality is always good when he comes on as a sub, but nobody wants to be seen as a good sub. You want to start games,” Southgate was quoted as saying by the club’s website.
Southgate spoke about how well he knew Rashford and for how long he has known him as a player. “He had the World Cup with us. And we were constantly talking through that period. I’ve had him since he was in the Under-21s really. He had been up with Roy [Hodgson] and then had one game back with us. We’ve always had good communication. I know him as well as anybody is going to know him. He’s not always easy to read,” he added.
Erik ten Hag got the best out of Rashford during the recently concluded season. When other managers struggled to help Rashford play at a consistently high level for long periods, ten Hag seemed to have cracked the code. “The obvious thing is the goals. I think, when he has had chances this season, you expect him to score, as the season has gone on. Maybe, in previous seasons, that was a little bit less of a certainty. I think, in working with Erik, he has had to work a bit differently without the ball,” he stated.
On Monday though England will face North Macedonia at Old Trafford, the home ground of Manchester United. “He does love playing for England. He’s very proud to play for England and I’m sure an England game at Old Trafford will be a special moment for him. It’s for us always to bring the crowd with us. The onus is on us to make the crowd excited and play well. It’s a great crowd up here anyway. We went to Leeds last year and that was an exceptional atmosphere and I’m sure Manchester will be the same,” he elaborated.
“It’s exciting for us, it’s a sell-out crowd, it adds an edge to the game. But, of course, our opponent will be lifted by that and want to put on a good display so we’ve got to be ready for them. But, as I said, we want to play well. We want to entertain our supporters and we want to win the game. We are pleased to be bringing the team to Manchester, to the north. I think it is important that we do that. The team are for all of the country to follow, not just the south. I hope we can put on a display that brings pride and brings excitement.”
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