Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has backed Marcus Rashford to keep scoring goals and has been talking up his mental resolve.
Rashford netted his 27th goal of the season, a big increase on his five goals from last season.
Rashford’s winning goal over Real Betis was from his fourth shot of the night, having sent one wildly over the bar just minutes earlier.
Ten Hag says he is delighted Rashford had the confidence to keep trying to score, and that his team keep getting him into positions to score.
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Ten Hag praises Rashford
Erik ten Hag spoke to the club website after the game and said he was pleased with Rashford’s resilience.
He said he has been working with Rashford on this since last summer and is pleased with how the forward is applying himself.
The manager said: “He will always be in the position he can score and he has to be focused on that. He keeps trying and he got his reward. It tells you something about the team performance and something about him.
“We have discussed a lot about the issue from the start of the season: if Rashy keeps his focus and makes sure he has the energy, the way we play, the way he has to play in that system and style, he will come into scoring positions and then it’s about him. He has the abilities to finish.
“Good strikers must know not every chance is a goal.”
Rashford scored his most difficult chance of the evening, a long range effort struck with the outside of his boot, a sign of confidence simply to try it.
Teammate Bruno Fernandes teased Rashford after the game about missing the easier chances he had set up. He can do this with confidence that United’s top scorer will probably score the next one he creates.