The striker looked lost against Liverpool and the time has come for Amad Diallo to take his place in the Red Devils attack
Manchester United fans do not usually boo their own players, even during an atrocious defeat like Sunday's trouncing by Liverpool. But lately they have been making their displeasure heard at Erik ten Hag's substitutions.
Last season, the Dutchman got an earful of abuse for taking off Rasmus Hojlund for Anthony Martial against Brighton, and received a similarly angry reaction when he took the Danish striker off for Amad Diallo against Burnley late in the campaign.
Martial has now left the club and Hojlund was injured for the Liverpool clash, but boos still rang out when Ten Hag made his second change after ruthlessly hauling Casemiro off for Toby Collyer, bringing on Amad for Alejandro Garnacho. The Argentina international is still in his honeymoon period with United fans, but he was not playing well at all against Liverpool.
The reaction, therefore, could only be interpreted as them venting their fury that Marcus Rashford was remaining on the pitch. Rashford had scored in two of his previous three games at home to Liverpool, but he was one of the worst performers in another dreadful defeat.
His malaise is no longer a surprise, it is a pattern that is repeated regularly, and Ten Hag needs to stop giving him so many chances.
AFPBacking away
Casemiro was the main scapegoat for the latest humiliating defeat under Ten Hag after his two costly errors, but Rashford was not far behind him. He had no shots on goal in the 90 minutes and took fewer touches than Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker. Yet it was his lack of confidence, which at times looked like a lack of interest, which was hardest to understand.
The flashpoint came when Rashford was in the final third and was about to take on Ibrahima Konate, but backed away from the duel and started dribbling backwards. That led to a chorus of boos from the home fans, who have developed an increasingly fractious relationship with their homegrown star despite him being a fan favourite just two years ago.
Former United captain Gary Neville was in an unforgiving mood in the commentary box. "There's no confidence. He had a one-on-one with Konate and he's ended back up at centre-back. The United fans aren't going to let him get away with that," he said.
"Whatever happens, you still have to go for it and take the one-on-one on. He might not be having a great day, great time, but he's just turned back and that tells you where his head is at."
Advertisement(C)Getty Images'Motivated to make a good season'
Ever since breaking into the United team at the age of 18, Rashford's career has followed a curious pattern of one excellent season followed by a disappointing one. His stunning debut campaign in 2015-16, when he struck eight goals in the space of three months, including a brace against Arsenal and the winner away to Manchester City, was followed by an underwhelming campaign under Jose Mourinho, in which he scored 10 goals.
He had brilliant back-to-back campaigns in 2019-20 and 2020-21, but they were followed by a miserable season in 2021-22, when he struggled with injuries and form. His next campaign was his best ever, however, when he scored 30 goals in all competitions and was rightly rewarded with a lucrative new contract.
He could not sustain it and last season ran into trouble on and off the pitch, scoring just eight Premier League goals and getting punished by the club for going on a drunken night out in Belfast and missing training the next day. Given what had happened before, though, there was hope that Rashford would bounce back.
There were positive noises about his attitude in pre-season and Ten Hag was impressed by what he saw from Rashford, saying in early August: "He is working very hard, very good, very engaged, very ambitious and motivated to make a good season."
AFPWishful thinking
But once the real season began, we have seen the same Rashford of the previous campaign. He missed a glorious chance to score in the Community Shield, hitting the post with the goal gaping after a dream pass from Garnacho. He then looked rusty in the Premier League opener against Fulham and botched a pass to Garnacho in stoppage-time, even though his team-mate still should have scored. Against Brighton a week later, he ruined two promising attacks by getting caught offside, provoking fierce criticism from Alan Shearer.
He was poor against Liverpool too, providing just one good piece of play when he presented Joshua Zirkzee with a headed chance. Talk of a genuine revival of form after his summer reset now looks to be wishful thinking, and we are seeing a very similar version of Rashford to last season.
"It's been going on for 14 months. He scored 30 goals the season before last. I'd like to think he can get his confidence back but it's looking like a struggle," Neville added. "The game doesn't look enjoyable for him right now and that's sad. It's sad watching that kid because he has been a joy for United at times in his career, but it is getting hard work for him and hard work for fans to watch him."
Getty ImagesNot enjoying himself
Similar comments were made of Rashford's lack of joy last season. Shearer remarked after a dismal defeat at Newcastle that Rashford was "not happy" and was "lacking desire". Rio Ferdinand questioned his work rate and admitted he was not a leader, and needed others to motivate him and push him.
Those concerns have not gone away. Graeme Souness said ahead of the Liverpool game that he did not even believe Rashford had really had a good career. He also questioned his attitude, saying: "He’s a young man with enormous potential, but it looks like it’s a burden for him to turn up on a Saturday and play for 90 minutes. When I think about Rashford, I don’t think about the wonderful goals or his pace; I think about things like the game against Luton last season. He was just jogging around and Ross Barkley ran around him three or four times."
