What has happened to Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford?

To many Manchester United supporters Marcus Rashford was a surprise when he came through the ranks of the academy and rose to stardom on the world's biggest stage, scoring away at the Etihad and a brace against Arsenal at Old Trafford, Rashford's career has been a clear example of what hard work can achieve at a club like Manchester United, Rashford has scored over 120 goals for the storied English club and has some of United's most electric and important goals in the last 5 years: the penalty against PSG, the penalty at the Etihad, and the goal that gave United their Carabao Cup which ended the Red's 6 year trophy drought. Now in the year 2023 when Manchester United needed him most...he vanished. After bringing Manchester United to a Champions League spot in the Premier League Table, an Carabao Cup and an FA Cup final appearance in 2022/23 we are yet again asking ourselves of the England and Manchester United star…What has happened to Marcus Rashford?

In 2022/23 Marcus Rashford scored over 30 goals and 11 assists, with 17 of his 30 contributions coming in the Barclays Premier League, bringing the Red Devils to a 3rd place spot, and securing Champions League Football. Now back in the 23-24 we are asking ourselves again, why has the England and Manchester United star dropped into form once again especially after a year where he looked a world class player for most of the season. This season so far Manchester United have not been up to standard, conceding 36 goals in all competitions while scoring just 33 goals throughout this season’s campaign, so far. While United are underwhelming as a squad collectively, Marcus Rashford’s performances have also been with Rashford only scoring 2 goals and 2 assists. However even with Rashford’s output not being up to standard compared to his product on the pitch from last season in multiple games during the 23-24 campaign Marcus Rashford has been Manchester United’s best and most important attacker but not as consistently as it was last year. Manchester United as a collective squad have not improved to standard of what a club like Manchester United should, and the same goes for Marcus Rashford, a player who grew up in the club and knows what it takes to succeed at one of, if not the biggest club in all of England.

Throughout the season the fans of Manchester United had been patient with Rashford, it was until the nightmare at Tyneside. On December 2nd Manchester United traveled to Tyneside, where they had a confrontation with Newcastle where Manchester United were played off the park the whole entire evening. The collective performance that fans were expecting but a majority of the fans were most outraged, annoyed and out of patience for Marcus Rashford’s play during the match. Throughout the match against Newcastle Rashford lost the ball countless times, would not track his runner and was not progressing the ball up the pitch. It was here when the Manchester United fans had enough of the English international’s underwhelming performances in the current season. United went on to lose the match 1-0, and Rashford was subbed off in the 61st minute in a match where Rashford looked a shell of the player who scored 41 G/A last season. Throughout the match Rashford gave fullback Tino Livramento plenty of space to work with throughout the entire match. Rashford’s poor form and attitude this season has been unacceptable for a Manchester United player of Rashford’s quality. Despite Rashford’s goal and assists tally being low compared to last season he has been the key for Manchester United in plenty of matches this season. In particular the match against Arsenal away at the Emirates where he showed everyone that he is capable of affecting a game in more ways than one, ironically enough the match against Arsenal was one of Manchester United’s best matches all season.

The truth about what has happened to Marcus Rashford is that nothing has happened, Rashford has always been a great player throughout his career scoring double digit assist and goals his entire career bar 2021. Rashford is United’s most important attacker as we saw last season when he netted 30 goals and 11 assists carrying Manchester United to a Champions League finish in the premier league, Carabao Cup final win and an FA Cup final appearance against Manchester City. Nobody could have predicted Rashford’s dip in form, and this is most likely why everyone was so shocked at the tally of only 4 G/A in 20 appearances this year for Manchester United. The collective form of Manchester United has also had an effect of Marcus’ form, the team collectively has been poor, along with Rashford.

Rashford’s season has been disappointing but a player of Rashford’s quality who has scored countless goals in important times for Manchester United. Last season for example his goals won United more than half of their matches, with his most important goals coming against the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, etc. Rashford has always scored important goals for United, especially in the past with goals such as the penalty against PSG, not only his penalty at the Etihad but his performance against City in 2019, as well as his goal at the Etihad in his debut season. Rashford is a spectacular player, and in truth nothing has happened to the player that United need for their success, only a dip in form that nobody expected to happen. The goals and performances that Marcus Rashford has put on display for the entire footballing world leaves hope for Manchester United supporters around the world that Marcus Rashford will return to his best for the English Giants. Manchester United travel to Anfield to take on league leaders Liverpool on Sunday, December 17th at 4:30 P.M. in a very important match for both clubs. Liverpool could extend their lead on Tottenham, Arsenal, and Aston Villa. Where Manchester United can jumpstart their underwhelming season with a shocking result at Anfield on Sunday, a Manchester United squad with 20+ injuries and more mounting will attempt to shock the Premier League when they travel to Merseyside to take on Premier League leaders Liverpool, a fixture which Manchester United were demolished 7-0 last season. Marcus Rashford & Manchester United will surely be looking to exact their retribution against Liverpool after last season’s drubbing at Anfield.