Ralf Rangnick has outlined his support for Marcus Rashford ahead of Manchester United’s trip to the Etihad Stadium.
Speaking at the press conference before the game against Watford last weekend, Rangnick said that Rashford is on top form in training and sees no reason why he cannot replicate those performances in a game.
And for the second press conference running, Rangnick has come out in defence of Rashford, this time when he wasn’t even asked about him.
Rangnick was asked about Cristiano Ronaldo and United’s lack of goals recently, but opted to speak about Rashford instead and backed him up once again.
“With Marcus Rashford, we have another player who I will insist and have continuously been behind him, with him, to develop him.
“We achieved that with quite a few young players in the past and I don’t see why that shouldn’t happen with Marcus.
“He’s got abundant talent, he’s got the pace, he’s got the physicality – he’s got everything that you need to be a modern striker no matter if he plays on the wing or in the centre.
“I will put all my energy into that to help him take the same pathway other players took in the past three months.”
It does not take too much of a leap to figure out that one of the ‘other players’ Rangnick is referring to is Jadon Sancho.
Rashford’s England teammate was in a similar situation around the turn of the year, struggling for form, with questions being asked of him.
Now, Sancho is flying and is in contention for United’s Player of the Month, with Rangnick seemingly having played a role in his resurgence.
Rashford will be hoping for a similar transformation between now and the end of the season because his current malaise is frustrating and has lingered on for too long now.
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