Unai Emery has sent a clear-cut message to Marcus Rashford after the Manchester United player made his club debut for Aston Villa in the FA Cup against Tottenham.
Marcus Rashford left Old Trafford earlier this month and completed the switch to Aston Villa, with the Premier League club signing him on a six-month loan deal.
Manchester United included a £40m buy option in the deal for the 27-year-old England star, who fell out of favour with Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim.
Villa did not have to pay a loan fee for Rashford and the Premier League club agreed to pay the majority of the United loanee’s wages during his spell at Villa Park.
Rashford had hinted that his future was away from Old Trafford after Ruben Amorim dropped him for United’s 2-1 win over Manchester City last December.
The England international had been linked with big-name clubs in Europe in recent weeks, including Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona and AC Milan.
However, a move abroad failed to materialise and Rashford remained in England and signed for Villa before the transfer window shut on 3rd February.
Emery reacts to Rashford’s debut
Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford was named on the bench for Aston Villa’s 2-1 win over Tottenham in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday.
Unai Emery turned to Rashford in the second half after Villa scored their second and handed him his club debut after he brought him on for Donyell Malen.
Rashford had a steady cameo appearance for Villa and the United player played his first minutes since the Red Devils’ 2-1 win over Viktoria Plzen last December.
Speaking after Villa’s progression to the fifth round of the FA Cup, Emery praised the “versatile” Rashford after his club debut at Villa Park.
However, the 53-year-old Villa manager warned Rashford about the expectations the club have for their Premier League campaign and Champions League run.
“We have to protect every player and try to adapt them into our structure and use their skills,” he told the BBC, as per Birmingham Live.
“Asensio, Rashford and Malen are versatile players in the attacking third. We can feel confident to have them.
“We are very demanding in our way because we want to be in the top six or top five in the Premier League as well as in the Champions League, where we are in the last 16.”
Emery welcomes Rashford’s arrival at Villa
Rashford struggled for form at United last season and the Three Lions star’s lack of consistency extended into the current campaign at Old Trafford.
The United forward has a chance to revive his career away from the Red Devils and Emery welcomed Rashford’s presence in his Villa squad.
“We have to build the team again after the circumstances we had,” Emery said.
“Lamare Bogarde played consistently again when we needed him. Andres Garcia and Malen both played in the idea we had.
“They were consistent and focused. As well, Marcus Rashford and Asensio, we watched their skill and how they helped us and will help us again in the next months in the different competitions we will face.
“We are in a new way after the changes we did. We are demanding because we still need to improve due to some tactical issues and how we want to compete in the Premier League.”
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