Manchester United legend Roy Keane revealed his clear-cut verdict on Marcus Rashford’s performance for Aston Villa in the Premier League defeat to Manchester City.
Marcus Rashford signed for Aston Villa back in February and the 27-year-old Manchester United player has been handed a second chance at Villa Park.
The 27-year-old United star fell out of favour at Old Trafford under Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim and Rashford left the Premier League club on a loan deal.
Villa are reportedly covering the majority of Rashford’s United wages and the Premier League club’s deal for the player did not include a loan fee.
The club have the option to buy Rashford, who is under contract with United until 2028, for a £40m transfer fee should they want to keep him at Villa Park.
Rashford has netted four times and picked up six assists in his 17 appearances for Villa since his move to Villa Park in the January transfer window.
Unai Emery is a big admirer of the United loanee and Rashford led the Villa attack against Manchester City in the Premier League clash at the Etihad on Tuesday.
Roy Keane’s assessment of Marcus Rashford’s display for Aston Villa after Man City’s 2-1 Premier League win at the Etihad
Bernardo Silva fired Manchester City into the lead in the opening 10 minutes before Marcus Rashford pulled Aston Villa level from the spot-kick in the 18th minute.
However, Pep Guardiola’s men sealed an important three Premier League points on Tuesday evening after Matheus Nunes scored deep into injury time for City.
Rashford was hooked off in the second half of the 2-1 defeat and manager Unai Emery replaced the Manchester United player with England star Ollie Watkins.
Villa have lost only one of their last five Premier League matches and Emery’s men are seventh in the table amid their push for a top-five finish this season.
Emery’s side are two points adrift from fifth-place Newcastle, but Eddie Howe’s men have a Premier League match in hand over Villa.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Roy Keane admitted that Rashford was a “nightmare” against City and the United player was “almost impossible to stop.”
“He was a threat tonight, he had a really big chance in the second half, but when there is grass in front of him, he is as good as any player,” he said, as per The Daily Mail.
“Ask the defenders, he is a nightmare. It is almost impossible to stop.”
Roy Keane identifies the ‘problem’ now facing Aston Villa and Unai Emery after their Premier League setback vs Man City
Villa are currently level on points with sixth-place Chelsea and three points behind fourth-place Nottingham Forest, with both sides having a match in hand.
Emery’s men only have four matches remaining in their Premier League campaign and could miss out on securing Champions League football for next season.
“The problem for Villa is they are running out of games and the goal difference is a problem,” Keane added.
“They are well organised, but they give up late goals and that will be costly.
“There will be one or two twists, but where you are in a position to draw, don’t lose, keep the momentum and City near you.
“You have seen the reaction of City; they know what a big moment it was [the] last kick of the game.”
Villa will now turn their attention to their FA Cup semi-final encounter against Premier League side Crystal Palace at Wembley on Saturday evening.
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