admin Marcus Rashford was Man United’s top scorer last season, but Saturday’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace speaks for itself.
The reaction around Old Trafford said it all on Saturday when Erik ten Hag decided to bring on Marcus Rashford.
Manchester United are 1-0 down at home to Crystal Palace and are having their worst start in the Premier League in 34 years, after seeing Joachim Andersen score the opener in the 25th minute. They have possession and territory but there is nothing to prove it.
As Roy Hodgson’s side played deeper and deeper, United continued to push forward and with 13 minutes left, Ten Hag made two changes. Mason Mount, still not fully active after a while, was first to go, but Marcus Rashford’s withdrawal should have been a bit more surprising – except it wasn’t.
This change last season would have caused widespread groans at Old Trafford, perhaps even boos. But on Saturday, the reaction was indifference.
Rashford was United’s talisman last season and left the club’s scoring charts far behind. His total of 30 was a personal best and more than double that of everyone else.He is invincible.
But the 25-year-old’s form so far this season has been typical of his side’s disappointing start, with just one goal in their opening eight games in all competitions. He has not registered a shot on target since the 3-1 loss to Brighton two weeks ago.
United fans, especially away fans, have a knack for showing clear emotion from the stands and talk of ‘Viva Garnacho’ during the 1-0 win over Burnley was a clear selling point clearly for the Argentinian player’s performance. The 19-year-old had to wait for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup win over Palace but seized his opportunity with the opening goal.
Rashford returned for Saturday’s Premier League clash and was again ineffective, looking increasingly frustrated on the left before being switched to the other side when Garnacho was introduced in stoppage time. The loudest cheers of the day rang out when his name was announced and “Viva Garnacho” kept the decibel level high for a while.
Rashford spent 17 minutes on the right wing and continued to fight to the point that the decision to send him off caused almost no reaction from the public. He still hasn’t regained the pace and speed that scared defenses last season.
“I think he knows he can do better than he does now,” Ten Hag said of Rashford, “I am sure it will come. He works hard and that is what he is doing. He will net, he will finish and it will come but it is not going to be automatic.
“He has to invest a lot, the team has to invest a lot around him. Today, we were in the right positions but the decision-making was not good enough and then we don’t score.”
Rashford’s poor form is not solely down to the player himself. United’s midfield is not creating as it used to and opposition teams are consistently doubling up, helped by the fact they don’t have an attacking left-back like Luke Shaw to manage.
But things are yet to click on that side of the pitch and teams are finding it relatively easy to keep him out of the game. Garnacho will not be the clear first-choice for some time, but the teenager would be deserving of a string of starts, even if to give his teammate time to find his feet.
