Amid a new era at Old Trafford, particularly off the pitch, new arrivals & changes in infrastructure, unfortunately, will not mask over where eyes will be come the start of the 2024/25 Premier League season.
Marcus Rashford’s struggles last season can be put in the rear-view mirror, though questions will remain unanswered about whether he can return to the scintillating form we saw Rashford produce in Erik ten Hag’s first season in charge.
It was a campaign where Rashford matched his best goalscoring tally in league competition (17), though it was his overall play and style that went along with it. So slick but explosive, the forward was electric.
Though once more in 23/24 the homegrown star was unable to maintain these exploits, in a season at Old Trafford ridden with inconsistency, distractions and a lack of continuity. He was not the only one.
Perhaps, the immense pressure aimed at Ten Hag in the final months of last season provided Rashford with some respite, whilst the disappointment of missing out in UEFA Euro 2024 may have been a blessing in disguise.
Rashford must perform
A full summer off to reset, refocus and gear up for another season should be of benefit to the forward, who it feels has not had a chance to recharge over the past few campaigns. It meanwhile again leads back to that seemingly daunting feeling. Pressure.
It has in fact left players lacking, struggling to cope with the onslaught of attention that comes with the enormity of Manchester United. You would think Rashford has had his fair share now, with the opportunity to deal with that pressure and drown out the noise.
The question remains, however, why has Rashford not yet been able to produce consistent, continuous seasons of the quality and productivity that we know he can deliver?
External perceptions and the need to see this consistency from the Englishman have meanwhile failed to effectively ask this question, and probe into the relevant aspects that would naturally influence his performances.
The demand to see top-quality, high-level football at Old Trafford will never wane, and the pressure will ultimately fall on the best players, the so-called leaders, Rashford now being one of them.
Now 26 and entering his peak years physically, Rashford must not only say but show he can be one of the leading men of this team, though his past inconsistencies have been unfairly criticised at times.
The constant instability, change and the lack of continuity at Old Trafford have certainly played their role. Particularly through his early seasons, Rashford was thrust into the starting side under Louis Van Gaal in 2016 at just 18.
Having already played under five different managers, Rashford’s development certainly took a hit. The continuous need to shift and readjust to different styles of play and different characters in the dugout would have no doubt impacted his career up to this point.
Ten Hag meanwhile can boast Rashford’s best season yet, though it’s important to look at the pieces that were around the forward.
Provided with the space and freedom to utilise his best attributes, there’s no doubt Rashford performs best in open spaces.
There’s also little to escape from the fact that the Englishman has always had a willing centre forward alongside him, Wout Weghorst in his best year and even Anthony Martial in that regard in the 19/20 season.
That profile of centre forward was lacking last season where the arrival of Rasmus Hojlund meant Rashford had to adjust once more to a striker who occupies the traditional spaces of a striker in and around the box.
Both players should be familiar with each other’s patterns, and favoured positions at this stage, whilst new signing Joshua Zirkzee will require Rashford to adjust once more though the Dutchman does have some of the tendencies of dropping in and creating space in behind, which suits Rashford.
And whilst all these points and arguments are valuable, it will ultimately come down to one aspect, attitude.
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Confident Rashford unstoppable
There were moments last season of unrest among the Old Trafford faithful, discontent with Rashford’s attitude or in fact lack thereof, signs the forward had lost that hunger which saw him so potent the season prior.
Confidence seems to play such a vital role for Rashford, a notable example we saw came following the aftermath of the FIFA World Cup in 2022 where the forward scored 12 in 12 and seemed unstoppable.
When he is in that frame of mind, he virtually is. Without question one of the best in that position, which leaves Man United fans hoping he returns to that form that sees Rashford at his sparkling best.
