Of all the embarrassing moments Manchester United have suffered this season, perhaps the most ironic is that their striker, Marcus Rashford, is about to help Aston Villa win the FA Cup.
In the quarter-finals, Rashford starred, scoring twice as Aston Villa comfortably beat Preston 3-0 to progress. Now, he has a good chance of winning the oldest football tournament in the world with Villa.
If Aston Villa ultimately manage to lift the trophy, Rashford will join the ranks of Brian Talbot and Olivier Giroud as one of the rare players to win the FA Cup for two different clubs in two consecutive years. Just eight months ago, he was still part of Manchester United and won the trophy with the team.
The transfer to Villa was a turning point, and Rashford was reborn
After winning the FA Cup in the 2024/25 season, Manchester United seemed to have ruled Rashford out of their future plans and finally decided to send him to Aston Villa. This transfer may be a chance for Rashford to prove himself again. In the past year, he has not been selected for the England national team due to his poor form, but now at Villa, he is gradually regaining his former glory.
It is worth mentioning that Rashford himself also admits that improving his physical condition is a key factor in his outstanding performance with his new club. In the 59 days since leaving Manchester United, he has been training alone in the gym at Stretford to recover and get back in top form.
At Manchester United, he was dropped by then manager José Mourinho for “not training hard enough”. But after arriving at Aston Villa, his mental outlook has changed, and his form and confidence have improved significantly. The team’s success in reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League and the semi-finals of the FA Cup has also rekindled his fighting spirit.
Rashford: I’m feeling better and I can still improve
In an interview with the media, Rashford admitted that his form is gradually improving.
“Since I’ve been here, I’ve felt a lot better and my game has improved,” Rashford said. ‘I know there is still room for improvement, but it’s a process. Before I joined Villa, I didn’t get enough game time, but now I’m in good shape and enjoying the game.”
He added: ’We must focus on every game and do our best to get the best result. The whole team is full of ambition.”
Key battle: Rashford finds his confidence with a brace
Ever since joining Aston Villa, Rashford has been struggling to adapt to the new system and create chances for his teammates. However, the goal-scoring luck seemed to have deserted him. Before the game against Preston, he had yet to open his scoring account for his new club. However, this game became a turning point for him, and he completely released the pressure with a brace.
After the game, Villa manager Unai Emery spoke highly of Rashford.
“Rashford trains very hard and he has quickly integrated into the team,” said Emery. ”It will take him a few weeks to adjust to the best condition, but his performance in this game has given him a huge boost in confidence.”
Emery also revealed that he is trying to get Rashford to take on more tactical roles in the game.
“We have a plan based on his characteristics, allowing him to switch flexibly between the wings and the center. In this game, he performed even better in the second half.”
Manchester United may face an embarrassing situation
Rashford’s performance in this game proved that he is still one of England’s top strikers. At Manchester United, he has been accused of being lazy, not training hard enough, and his physical condition has been questioned. But at Villa, he showed a completely different side, full of energy and confidence.
If Aston Villa were to win the FA Cup, it would undoubtedly put United in an awkward situation. After all, they had just won the competition last season, and now their former player could lead their rivals to the trophy. This is not only an irony for the management of Manchester United, but also highlights their problems in developing and using players.
Now, Rashford is proving to the world that he is still capable of being a top striker. And Manchester United may need to reflect on why they have not been able to fully realize the potential of this player.
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