Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag believes that Marcus Rashford could be the Red Devils' difference-maker this season after an excellent performance against Barnsley on Tuesday night.
United cruised into the fourth round of the EFL Cup, demolishing the lower-league outfit 7-0 at Old Trafford, with Rashford scoring his side's first goal of the night before doubling his tally just before the hour-mark.
After banging in 30 in Ten Hag's first season in Manchester, the 26-year-old striker experienced a forgettable campaign in 2023-24, netting just eight times, which led to him being left out of Gareth Southgate's England squad for Euro 2024.
This term, though, the England international has made a much more positive start, following up on his goal against Southampton at the weekend with a brace in midweek.
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Ten Hag admits life is easier when Rashford scores
Speaking after the midweek victory, Ten Hag praised the efforts of the England forward but also stressed the importance of having multiple goal-scoring contributors in the team.
He said: "The goals not only have to come from Marcus Rashford. "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."
The Dutchman added: "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."
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Rashford praises Man United attacking unit
Rashford was joined on the scoresheet in the lopsided victory by Antony (one), Alejandro Garnacho (two) and Christian Eriksen (two).
Both of his goals were set up by Garnacho, and the Englishman was quick to praise the performance of his Argentine teammate, as well as the team's attacking performance in the match: "It's important to have those relationships on the pitch but I think as a front unit, linking with the midfield, I felt we did very well today.
"Before the first goal, it was a little difficult but after the first one, we found better spaces and we probably made better decisions in order to score."
Quizzed if the boost of confidence could be sustained with a trip to Crystal Palace incoming the weekend, Rashford said: "It's early to say but I hope so. We'll move onto the next game now and just rest, recover and focus on the next one.
"Football is football - sometimes you have ups and, sometimes, you have downs. We have to use these games to find momentum, find consistency and try your best to bring your best level in each game," he added.
Devesh Jaganath
