Erik ten Hag believes that Marcus Rashford, whom he describes as a “big player,” could be a key factor in Manchester United’s season.
Rashford ended a six-month goal drought with a crucial goal in United’s 3-0 victory over Southampton on Saturday.
He continued his impressive form by netting twice in the team’s 7-0 League Cup rout of Barnsley.
The 26-year-old forward scored only eight goals last season, a significant drop from the 30 he managed in Ten Hag’s first season at United.
However, Ten Hag is optimistic that Rashford has now returned to his best form.
“The goals not only have to come from Marcus Rashford,” Ten Hag said.
“We need more goalscorers but I know from my first season here when he scores then it’s [easier] for the team when you have a player in your squad who is a guarantee for goals.
“Then it can make the difference.
“You can do a lot of things very good between the boxes but football matches are decided in the box.
“I’m not only expecting this from Marcus Rashford, I expect it from others who are in the prime of their career but we also have some others who are high potentials, they are very hungry to score goals. But more important they want to win, to win games and win trophies.
“Confidence is a big part of it, it is not everything, there are also other parts but confidence is a big part and I think Rashford is a big guy.
“He’s scored so many goals, he’s one in the list of (current) United goalscorers, he is on top of it, so he is a big guy.
“But you are as good as your last game and every time you have to prove it.
“But I have even seen the biggest guys, the biggest football players, when they are not performing and when strikers are not scoring, they drop in confidence, it doesn’t matter who.”
“You can say not for me but for the team this is the perfect night,” Ten Hag added.
“I think we could do everything what we planned to do: how we win, next round, scored some great goals, entertained the fans, we worked on our game model so we are happy.”
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