Marcus Rashford is the most in-form player in Europe right now.
By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert
Since returning from the World Cup, the 25-year-old has scored 16 goals and chipped in with four assists in just 17 appearances across all competitions. He’s the only player across Europe’s top five leagues to have 20 goal involvements during this period, seven clear of Karim Benzema in second.
What is frightening about this run of form is that the England international hasn’t just racked up impressive figures in a single match to skew the numbers. He’s scored or assisted in all but two games. Right now there is an air of inevitability about the Manchester United No.10.
All things considered, it has been a meteoric turnaround. Last season, Rashford finished with just four Premier League goals. Granted, he was plagued by a shoulder injury for a significant part of the campaign and then utilised in various roles as Ralf Rangnick tried to put his stamp on things during his time as interim manager. The majority of his minutes arrived on the right side of the pitch for the Red Devils.
By comparison, the majority of his minutes have arrived from the left post-World Cup, though he did start the match against Leicester City as a centre-forward. Rashford is much more comfortable when allowed to cut inside, so the left-wing berth suits his game and skill set.
Erik Ten Hag has managed to get Rashford back on track after a difficult two-year spell. Having scored a career-high 17 Premier League goals during the 2019/20 campaign, he managed just 15 across the next two seasons.
“He has so many skills, such high potential and I think there can be even more. When he works well, he will even score more goals because he can score with his left, right and his head.”
Speaking after Rashford netted a double in the 3-0 win over Leicester to take United to within three points of neighbours Manchester City, Ten Hag heaped praise on his prolific attacker, saying: “He has so many skills, such high potential and I think there can be even more. When he works well, he will even score more goals because he can score with his left, right and his head.”
The club are reportedly working on a new deal for the academy graduate with his current one expiring after the 2023/24 campaign comes to an end. They will be desperate to tie him down to see exactly how he can develop under the former Ajax manager.
United have worked on a system to get the versatile forward much more involved this term. For example, last season, Rashford finished the campaign with an Expected Goals per 90 average of just 0.23. He was attempting 1.6 shots – fewer than a number of United players including Paul Pogba – and significantly behind the four racked up on a per 90 basis by Cristiano Ronaldo.
When the legendary Portuguese forward returned to Old Trafford, everything was geared towards him and it meant others, like Rashford, suffered. It is no coincidence that since his departure, the United No.10 has seen his averages spike.
His Expected Goals per 90 average has almost doubled (0.43) as have his shots per 90 (three up from 1.6). Simply put, he is now much more of a threat and United are reaping the rewards. Rashford has a clean striking technique and is one of the purest finishers in the Premier League when he’s confident. This is backed up by the numbers too. His Expected Goals haul for the Premier League season is 9.9 but his Expected Goals on Target (xGOT) total is 12.2. The latter stat takes into account where the shot hits the target and assigns a value to that as opposed to assigning a value to where the shot is taken from.
If a player’s xGOT is higher than their xG, their shot placement is adding value to the efforts. Given we’re 24 matches into the season, you can confidently say this is more than just a purple patch.
So Ten Hag is giving his best finisher more opportunities. It doesn’t take a genius but the Dutch tactician deserves plaudits for creating an environment for Rashford to flourish. A consequence of this is United find themselves in a title race and still competing for all four trophies in February.
(Images from IMAGO)
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