Few players have benefitted from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s appointment as interim manager at Manchester United as Marcus Rashford.
The academy graduate has, to put it simply, been in breathtaking form, his confidence reaching astronomical levels.
This was epitomised most recently as the 21-year-old held his nerve to slot away the winning goal from a spot-kick against Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes in the last minute of their two-legged Champions League tie.
Solskjaer has been asked, ahead of Man Utd travelling down to Arsenal in their Premier League tie this weekend, whether Wythenshawe-born Rashford can go on to become of the plethora of club legends its fans adore.
“That’d be fantastic and we call it the legends we’ve had at this club that have stayed so long and one club players and we hope Rashy’s gonna be one to them up to him and us if he keeps producing he’ll stay in the team and that’s up to him.” (reports the MEN.)
When pressed further as to whether the gaffer had seen ‘rapid maturity’ in the forward since Ole took charge from Jose Mourinho in mid-December, Solskjaer was characteristically modest on the effect he’s had on the Englishman.
“You don’t see too much of change in a player in three months but he’s 21 and you’re excused if sometimes you hit the highs and are a bit off the pace…but he’s got quality finishing striking of the ball attitude. “
Rashford has scored seven goals in all competitions since the tail end of last year, but Solskjaer has faith he can be even more prolific;
“Rashy’s goals are sometimes worldies and he does have a sensational strike of the ball, but you see the improvement and maturity in Cristiano [Ronaldo]’s goals from when he was young to now, he scores more from inside the box and that’s what Rashy has to improve as well. His tap-ins, his movement, stay in the box, maybe not get away from centre-backs a few more times. That’ll just have to get those five or 10 extra goals just from staying in the box. And he’s been told that!”
Rashford will most likely be expected to lead the line for the Red Devils this weekend against Arsenal and hopefully add to his tally.