Marcus Rashford makes Paul Pogba look stupid after unflattering comparison to team-mate
Following a remarkable turnaround in form for Manchester United, Marcus Rashford continues to disprove his critics.
Last season was arguably the most challenging of the 25-year-old’s career, as he scored only five goals in 32 appearances across all competitions.
Due to this loss of form, he was removed from Manchester United’s starting lineup in March 2022 and excluded from the England squad.
But under Erik ten Hag, Rashford is playing the best football of his career, scoring against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday for the tenth time in as many games. With half of the season remaining, he currently has 18 goals, just four shy of his career-high total.
Ten Hag labelled the United forward as “unstoppable” in his current guise and singled him out for praise. “There are more players who are playing really well but I am happy with Marcus, his performance and his development,” the Dutchman said.
“From the start of the season he is growing and keeps doing that. We have to keep his process going and if he is in that mood and spirit, I think he is unstoppable. It is up to the team to get him in the right positions.”
Rashford has swiftly filled the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo’s acrimonious departure as the team’s talismanic forward.
In reality, he assumed this role long before the 37-year-old left the Premier League for the Saudi professional League.
Prior to Ronaldo’s arrival, Rashford was competing with another veteran striker, Edinson Cavani, whose 2020 transfer had an immediate impact.
Cavani, who was initially acquired to fill in for the club’s younger forwards, scored 17 goals after earning a spot in the starting lineup.
Paul Pogba claimed that the Uruguayan was “levels above” his competition, including Marcus Rashford, following one of his 10 Premier League goals.
Pogba stated in January 2021, “Everybody knows that Edi is a top-class striker and there’s few strikers like this in the world, and we had the chance to have one,” Pogba said in January 2021.
“We know the hardest goals are those goals. We have talented players – Anthony Martial, Rashy, they can shoot from outside and stuff – but they don’t have this, the experience of Edi, and they don’t have the same quality of Edi as well.
“So I think we complete each other with the players we have in front and Edi can obviously show his class like he did today. Those goals that we needed, at the right time, he’s always there at the right time and the right moment to help the team to win.”
El Matador was given a 12-month contract extension by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, indicating that he agreed in part.
This quickly backfired, however, as the 35-year-old was plagued by injury issues and left on a free transfer last summer.
Rashford may have improved in recent months, but there were always indications that he was at least comparable to the former Napoli star.
Pogba didn’t appear to recognize this, but he could see it for himself if both United and Juventus advance to the Europa League quarterfinals.
Marcus Rashford makes Paul Pogba look stupid after unflattering comparison to team-mate
