The forward usually makes a fast start under a new boss, but the Portuguese coach's man-management skills could lead to a permanent revival
"From Wythenshawe and loves to fight. He’s born to play, in red and white. So listen close, it must be said. Like Manchester, Rashford is red." Those are the lyrics to one of the best chants Manchester United fans have come up with in in recent years, but within the last 12 months the ditty has effectively been on hiatus amid the stand-off between supporters and their homegrown star.
On Sunday, however, the chant was booming around Old Trafford once more as Rashford showed further signs of his revival under Ruben Amorim. The forward struck twice against Everton after scoring the first goal of Amorim's reign at Ipswich, and in just three appearances under the Portuguese coach he has as many goals as in his previous 18 games under Erik ten Hag.
Rashford looks happy again after a turbulent year, and after scoring his second goal against Everton he re-enacted his trademark celebration by pointing to his head. The gesture, which was a staple of his 30-goal season in 2022-23, had rarely been seen in the last year, largely because he had not been scoring very often (eight goals in all competitions last term). But even when he had scored, his reaction was more one of relief rather than celebrating his mentality.
Every United fan and England supporter will be pleased about Rashford's rebirth, as at times this season and last he appeared to be missing in action, his mind seemingly elsewhere. The challenge is for him to stay motivated and keep on scoring, and the early signs under Amorim are positive.
GettyFast starts
Rashford being back among the goals is somewhat surprising given his recent struggles, but the forward has a real habit of making fast starts when there is a new coach on the scene. He took the world by storm by scoring twice on his United debut in 2016 under Louis van Gaal against Midtjylland in the Europa League, and also netted a brace in his first Premier League game against Arsenal. He slowed down a bit, as was inevitable, scoring four goals in his next 15 games.
Rashford then made a strong start under Jose Mourinho the following season despite not being a regular starter. He scored three Premier League goals in his first four appearances, but then got just two more between the end of September and the end of the season. He ended Mourinho's second campaign with 13 goals and had scored only three times in five months of the third campaign when the Portuguese was sacked and replaced by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
As with Amorim, Rashford scored the first goal of a new era under the Norwegian, netting in the third minute against Cardiff City. He managed six goals in the first eight games of the Norwegian's reign, but that dream start petered out as he scored just once in the final 13 league matches. Rashford then had his best season up until that point, scoring 22 times in all competitions in 2019-20, and then 21 the following term.
AdvertisementGettyScoring in streaks
Then came the worst campaign of Rashford's career where three big factors affected his form: the emotional pain of missing his penalty in the European Championship final, the return of Cristiano Ronaldo to United and a back injury. The arrival of Ralf Rangnick did not lift his form either, and he scored just twice under the interim coach, the goals coming typically in the space of three days, as if to confirm the suspicion he was a 'streaky' player who only performed well in bursts.
Normal service resumed when Ten Hag arrived, though, as the Dutchman's first season coincided with Rashford's best-ever campaign as he scored 30 goals in all competitions, including 17 times in the Premier League. That earned the striker a brand new contract until 2028 which made him one of the club's top earners. Upon signing his bumper new deal, Rashford declared: "I’ve already had some amazing experiences at this incredible club, but there is still a lot more to achieve and I remain relentlessly determined to win more trophies in the years ahead.
"As a United fan all my life, I know the responsibility that comes with representing this badge and feel the highs and lows as much as anyone. I can assure you that I will give everything to help the team reach the level we are capable of, and I can feel the same determination around the dressing room. I couldn’t be more excited for the future under this manager."
GettyStrained relationship
Needless to say, Rashford did not deliver on that promise to keep on pushing himself. He ended the 2023-24 campaign on just eight goals in all competitions, the second-worst tally of his career. His relationship with fans was further strained by his off-the-pitch behaviour, such as celebrating his birthday after the 3-0 derby defeat by Manchester City and then missing training after going to a nightclub in Belfast and lying to the club about it.
He did not take the criticism well, sniping back at supporters through an article in and things came to a head when Rashford was confronted by a fan while warming-up for a game at the end of the campaign. The new season did not lead to much of a change in Rashford's performances, either, despite him getting an extended summer break after being left out of England's squad for Euro 2024.
But as with the previous changes in coach, Amorim's arrival has led to an uptick in Rashford's displays. In two games he has lifted his Premier League goal tally for the season from one to four, with him benefitting from the team's more attacking approach under the Portuguese.
Getty Images SportAmorim knows his history
The coach is wary of Rashford's recent history and has made some pointed remarks in a bid to keep him motivated. "We'll try to find the right solution for him, as for the other players. But he has to be Marcus, first of all, to try to return to that moment," Amorim said before the Europa League game with Bodo/Glimt. "And then he will have all the help of the staff, the club and the fans because he's a Manchester United boy. But he has to be the first one to want it."
And after Rashford scored twice against Everton, the coach resisted the temptation to lavish the forward with praise. Instead, he urged him to raise his level even higher, saying: "He can do so much. He has to continue to improve. He has the ability to do it, he already proved that, but he can play so much better like the other guys. It was a good performance, but he has to recover and start to think about Arsenal."
