Re-generation of Marcus Rashford: United striker looks a different player for England

‘You have the answer now when you ask ‘Why always Lukaku?’ We are probably not as good as people think individually.’

That was Jose Mourinho’s sly dig at Marcus Rashford after Manchester United’s defeat at Brighton in the Premier League last month. Rashford had started the game. Romelu Lukaku had not.

This was the same Rashford who lit up Elland Road on Thursday night with a stunning goal and all-round dazzling display in England’s victory over Costa Rica.

Marcus Rashford looked a different player with England compared to Manchester United

Rashford was England's star man all evening and opened the scoring sensationally from range

Rashford was England’s star man all evening and opened the scoring sensationally from range

Rashford launched Gareth Southgate’s side into the lead with a 30-yard rocket as he spent all game terrorising the Costa Rican defence.

The 20-year-old has now given Southgate an unexpected decision to make over whether Rashford should start ahead of Raheem Sterling against Tunisia on June 18.

United fans even took to social media to urge Mourinho to sign this ‘unknown Rashford lad’.

But how can his performance in an England shirt be so different to when he plays for United?

Just how much better was Rashford on Thursday night?

Compared to his recent Manchester United games, Rashford excelled for England in Leeds

Compared to his recent Manchester United games, Rashford excelled for England in Leeds

In England's 3-5-2 system, Rashford is not expected to find himself tracking back too often

At United, Rashford is expected to do a lot more defensively

For England (left), Rashford earned most of his touches in wide attacking areas with very few defensive responsibilities while at United (right) over the season he was penned further back

Almost twice as good. When you compare Rashford’s performance against Costa Rica with his average over 90 minutes for United last season, the striker was almost doubly as effective for the Three Lions.

Rashford attempted 51 passes for England against Costa Rica, while his average for United was around 29 – all at the same 78 per cent completion rate.

Crucially for an attacker, though, 32 of those passes at Elland Road ended in the final third. That’s the area in which Rashford can have his biggest influence on the game. For United, there were less than 15.

Then there’s attempted dribbles, the confidence to take on his man. Rashford attempted 10 of them against Costa Rica, as he frequently left his defenders chasing his heels. For United, he averaged just 5.4.

How is that possible?

In a withdrawn role behind Jamie Vardy, the United striker had freedom to express himself

In a withdrawn role behind Jamie Vardy, the United striker had freedom to express himself

In a word: freedom. Southgate gave Rashford much greater licence to roam and express himself.

Rashford started up front with Jamie Vardy against Costa Rica but in the withdrawn role that gave the United striker the freedom to come short, drift wide and do basically what he wanted while the Leicester man pressed high to push the defence back and leave more space for Rashford to thrive.

He does not get that under Mourinho, who is far more restrictive in his demands. Take Rashford’s goal for a start. That came from right side. For United, Rashford is hardly ever there. Mourinho plays him mainly as a left-winger in a 4-2-3-1 and expects him to stay there.

According to Opta, only 19 per cent of Rashford’s touches for United last season were on the right-hand side of the opposition half. Against Costa Rica, 32.5 per cent of them were there.

How do defensive duties affect Rashford?

His influence wanes at United when he becomes occupied with tracking opposition players 

His influence wanes at United when he becomes occupied with tracking opposition players 

That also has an effect on Rashford’s ability to influence games. Again, it comes down to freedom within the respective systems.

Southgate’s England play with wing-backs. It is their job to track back and stem the danger from opposition wingers. There’s an extra centre-back too, which allows the right or left side of the back three to drift wide to lend a hand.

Rashford’s defensive duties are, to the nearest decimal place, nil.

He has nowhere near that freedom under Mourinho. United’s 4-2-3-1 means the wingers have to do the tracking back to help out the full-backs. It was for this very reason that Antonio Conte switched to 3-4-3 in his first season at Chelsea, to free up Eden Hazard from his defensive shackles.

Last season, nearly 20 per cent of Rashford’s touches for United were in his own half. Against Costa Rica, just 7.5 per cent of them were, with 5 per cent still in the middle third of the pitch.

Unless you’re David Beckham or Maynor Figueroa, having a fifth of your touches behind the halfway line is not going to help you score or create goals.

How do Southgate and Mourinho differ with Rashford?

Southgate appears to be more willing to let young players express themselves than Mourinho

Mourinho is not scared of publicly criticising his players - young or old

Southgate appears to be more willing to let young players express themselves than Mourinho

‘What pleased me most is that Marcus Rashford enjoyed his football tonight. He played with a real swagger,’ said Southgate after the game on Thursday night.

The slight implication, perhaps, is that Rashford has not been enjoying it at United. As we have seen, Mourinho is not averse to throwing his players under the public bus when they do not meet his demands.

Southgate, though, appears to want to instil confidence in his young players, and give them the freedom to express themselves as they head into the World Cup to represent a country that has for so long been weighed down by pressure and expectation. This is allowing the likes of Rashford to shine.

Is there a defence for Mourinho?

In defence of Mourinho, he can ill-afford to experiment in a fiercely tight Premier League

In defence of Mourinho, he can ill-afford to experiment in a fiercely tight Premier League

Of course. Last night was just a warm-up game, with little other than experimentation and preparation on the line. And while Costa Rica are no mugs – they are ranked 23rd in the Fifa rankings, ahead of Sweden and Austria – they are still a side England should beat. And they did so comfortably.

Mourinho does not have that luxury. He cannot afford to experiment in the Premier League, especially when the noisy neigbours are charging off into the distance with the title and the plaudits.

Mourinho relies on his systems and his structures. But last night showed they also come at Rashford’s expense.



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