Manchester United are one of the most up-and-down teams in world football at the moment.
Take just over two weeks ago for instance. Erik ten Hag‘s side treated fans at Old Trafford to one of the most remarkable, high-spirited games to ever play out in the club’s history as they beat Liverpool 4-3.
But then the very next game – Manchester United had one of their worst games in recent times, absolutely battered by Brentford and extremely lucky to salvage a point.
A lot of it is down to players’ performances. Some weeks they turn up, others they simply do not. One of these players is a Ten Hag regular, but he has just not looked right all season. Gary Neville and Rio Ferdinand speculate this could be down to off-pitch influences.
Gary Neville says ‘there’s something not right’ with Marcus Rashford
The curious case of Marcus Rashford. It really is a strange one at the moment for United. He just looks miles off the pace, and Neville is seriously worried about this. He told Stick to Football:
“You mentioned body language and I’ve thought about this a lot in the past few days,” Neville begins.
“It was a topic of conversation after the game on Saturday night after the Brentford. Marcus Rashford, I don’t know how to say this, but to me, there’s something not right. He’s not right.
“It’s not just a case of he’s not playing football well. He doesn’t look happy. I’m looking at him thinking, I’m actually worried about him. I don’t know whether you watch him, you know when you watch a player and think actually there’s something there.”
Neville continues: “We know there’s been a couple of incidents this season and he’s come under a bit of pressure, his form is bad.
“We know that. But I look at him and go that’s just not right that. I genuinely would worry about him because that’s not a lad who’s grown up with the spirit and freedom of playing for Manchester United as a kid.”
- READ MORE: Who is Gary Neville? Step into the world of the Manchester United legend turned top-tier pundit
Rio Ferdinand offers Rashford suggestion
Ferdinand responded to Neville’s concerns with his own view on the situation. He said:
“I think it’s a pivotal moment in his career now. I think a lot of people look at him and go oh ‘potential talent.’ He’s 26!
“We all made mistakes, but on the football pitch we all kind of had it locked down and knew what we were about. You knew who you were.
“I think there’s a big decision to make from him. He’s got a look at who’s around him. I know his family play a big part in him which is great, but then who are the external people around that?”
Rio continues with a personal anecdote that he believes could help Rashford:
“I left to Leeds [from West Ham], I could’ve gone to Chelsea and that was a club I’d have probably preferred to go to at the time, but it was still in London.
“The reason I went to Leeds is because the external people around me, I needed to get away from. He might need to be in that situation and go you know what, get rid of them, and stay in Manchester. Or leave Manchester, and get rid of those people.
“It might not just be that, but I think it’s a big part as the people around you have a big influence on how you are.”
- READ MORE: Who is Marcus Rashford? Inside the life of Man Utd’s book-writing, government-tackling ace
What to do with Marcus Rashford?
It’s such a difficult one. Arguably Manchester United’s poster boy and a player with undeniable talent, it should be so different for Rashford given his current age around Carrington.
He should be a superstar – but instead, he looks mega-depleted. The risk now is to hold on to him for too long, watching your asset slowly depreciate.
We personally hope Rashford gets things sorted and back to his best. However, whether he does just that is a different story.
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