Man United’s top goalscorer last season Marcus Rashford had an uncharacteristically quiet performance against Wolves.
Marcus Rashford will need to deal with the weight of expectation this season at Manchester United.
Last year was seen as make or break for the United Academy product who looked a shell of his former self before Erik ten Hag’s arrival. Fortunately, the forward rediscovered his form, particularly after the World Cup.
The 25-year-old’s 30 goals in the last campaign set the standard for what United fans now expect on a regular basis. With the European Championships on the horizon too there is hope, not only in the red half of Manchester but across the country, Rashford will be able to deliver again this campaign.
Sadly, Rashford’s season did not spark into life against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday night. The forward, like his other teammates in the strikeforce, was quiet as they struggled to break down a well-organised opposition.
Due to injuries, Erik ten Hag was forced to play Rashford in the No.9 role and this would be to his detriment. United’s talisman looked isolated and this partially led to a frustrating night for the Reds in front of goal.
This outcome will have come as no surprise to former boss Jose Mourinho. Speaking on Sky Sports’ Super Sunday in 2019, the soon-to-be Tottenham Hotspur manager explained exactly why he does not see Rashford as a No.9.
“He is young but he is experienced,” Mourinho said. “One thing is you are young and you do not have enough minutes, one thing is you are young and you never play, another is you are young and you play since you are 18.
“At 21-years-old he has had more matches in; the Premier League, in the national team, in the World Cup, in the Euros, in the Champions League and the Europa League, than some players who are 24, 25. For me the points are not his age, the points are his qualities.
“For me, he is potentially a very good player, he is a very good player in some models of play, he is a very good player in some positions. As a target man or as a No.9 I don’t think he has these 30 goals which a top striker has.”
Mourinho continued: “For me who can’t get better as a No.9. For me, he can get better and better and better playing the way they did today – playing from the left side.
“But, playing as the target man in matches for Manchester United [he needs to be] dominant and playing against defensive teams, against low blocks, I think it is difficult for him.”
Ultimately, this would play out as Mourinho expected against Wolves. While Gary O’Neil’s men were by no means defensive, they were well-organised and were difficult to break down.
Already at this early stage of the season, you can see Rashford is not the solution to the centre-forward problem. The sooner Rasmus Hojlund returns from injury, the better.
