After nearly two decades at Manchester United, Marcus Rashford is spending his first day as an Aston Villa player.
The Marcus Rashford saga is finally over with the 27-year-old landing in Birmingham after dropping out of Ruben Amorim’s plans at Manchester United.
Rashford sent a goodbye message to United on Saturday evening as his loan to Aston Villa was officially confirmed. Amorim was excited to work with Rashford ahead of his appointment at United, but the Portuguese head coach ended up disappointed at his work rate in training.
Rashford’s dream move was to Barcelona, but the La Liga club were unable to afford a move this month so he has stayed put in the Premier League and completed a move to Villa.
After an initial six-month loan spell, Villa have the option to buy Rashford for £40m in the summer if he impresses.
Marcus Rashford’s first interview at Aston Villa
After his loan move was confirmed on Sunday evening, Villa have now released Rashford’s first interview in claret and blue.
Here is every word said by the United academy star:
How excited are you by this new challenge?
“Yeah, definitely excited. It’s an ambitious time for this club and a great opportunity for me to join the team and help them keep pushing forward.
“I’m excited – I can’t wait for the first training session and the first game.”
How impressed have you been with Unai Emery’s job?
“Yeah I think he’s a top manager and what he has done with the club since he has come to Villa has been unbelievable.
“It’s the constant ambition that is attractive. It’s why you want to join such a club. You want to keep improving year on year and that’s what the team has been doing and are doing this year.”
What can you bring to Aston Villa?
“Just my skill-set, I know I can hurt teams and when I’m playing at my best I can decide football games.
“That will be my only ambition, to help the team win more games, win more points and hopefully make history.”
First time away from Man United, will the likes of Mings, Konsa and Watkins help you settle in?
“Yeah, like you said it’s my first time playing for any other team so you don’t really know what to expect.
“But it’s been more excitement than being scared of a new environment.”
What are your aims at Aston Villa this season?
“I think it’s clear. We’re obviously still in the Champions League, we want to go as far as we can in that.
“If you don’t aim to win it, you’re never going to win it. That’ll be my main objective, and keep pushing in the league to get as high as possible.”
On a return to Champions League football
“Obviously, the biggest competition for a club to be involved in. I’m sure it will be a new experience for me, playing for Villa in the Champions League.
“It’s always going to be a great moment, but the aims remain the same, to try and do our best to win it.”
Will your experience in the Champions League help?
“I’ve played a fair amount of games in the Champions League, so I feel like I’m experienced and know how to handle those types of situations.
“But, like I say, it’s a new environment, new team, new team-mates, so it’s about shared experiences and using each other’s experiences to help you get through the game and hopefully keep winning.”
Why Aston Villa?
“It’s a club that’s in a good position in the league, and they’re pushing to get higher. Still in the Champions League, a good, ambitious manager and great talent in the squad.
“I’ve had to choose somewhere where I feel my style of football is suited to, and can help them and help me rediscover and improve as a player.
“Obviously it’s only short-term I’m here, so I want to make the most of my time here, and the only way to do that is by using my attributes and my skillset to help the team.”
Reaction to Marcus Rashford’s Aston Villa move
Rashford once said playing for United ‘was everything’, but he has now decided that a move away is the best thing for his career – perhaps that is true.
United fans were shocked by Rashford’s Villa move, with supporters questioning how one of the club’s best players has now been made available for just £40m.
It is certainly not the fairytale ending that fans and Rashford hoped for after his emergence at Old Trafford.
A number of club legends have actually praised the move. Wayne Rooney urged Rashford to leave, and Paul Scholes wanted to sell Rashford anyway.
Neville has backed Rashford to shine under Emery after Amorim’s “brutal” comments towards the forward. It is now up to him to either work his way back into United’s plans or seal a permanent move to Villa.
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