Experts express concerns over Marcus Rashford’s prolific but potentially fleeting form, raising doubts over his future success
Manchester United’s star forward, Marcus Rashford, has continued his impressive goal-scoring form with his 13th goal in 15 appearances since the World Cup, as the Red Devils secured a 2-0 victory over Leeds last weekend. This stunning transformation in form has caught the attention of many, with manager Erik ten Hag praising Rashford as one of the best forwards in Europe.
Ten Hag believes that Rashford’s success is due to his hunger for goals and his ability to maintain focus. He also added that Rashford’s skills and potential are vast, and he can score with his left, right, and head. Rashford’s performance has helped his team move to third place in the Premier League table, only five points behind the league leaders, Manchester City and Arsenal.
Comparing Rashford’s stats with other Premier League players since the World Cup, the England winger stands out, having scored more than double the number of goals of fourth and fifth-placed players Eddie Nketiah and Harry Kane, respectively. Even Erling Haaland, who tops the Premier League goal chart with 26 goals, has scored only nine goals in all competitions since the World Cup.
There have been few changes in Manchester United’s tactics since Rashford’s superb form began, with Wout Weghorst being the only notable addition to the squad during his goal-scoring streak. However, data reveals that Rashford has been most successful when playing with Bruno Fernandes and the injured Christian Eriksen, while Luke Shaw often supplies the winger with passes down the left flank.
Rashford has been United’s most advanced player, and the center-backs have advanced higher upfield, which is evident in the heat maps that show Rashford has been spending more time closer to the opposition box since late December. Although Rashford’s new manager seems to have helped him unlock his potential, the question remains whether he can sustain his clinical run and maintain his focus to keep scoring at such an impressive rate.
