Owen Hargreaves has heavily criticised Marcus Rashford following his performance for Manchester United against Fulham, arguing that the forward failed to take advantage of the chances that came his way.
Speaking during the match, Hargreaves described Rashford as one of the main talking points of the first half, but unfortunately not for the right reasons.
“Marcus Rashford has been the story of this first half, and unfortunately for him and for Manchester United, it’s not a positive one,” Hargreaves said.
The former Manchester United midfielder was particularly frustrated by the chances Rashford failed to convert, insisting that a striker playing for United has to be more clinical in front of goal.
“He’s had chances that you simply cannot afford to miss at this level. When you’re playing as a centre-forward for Manchester United, you have to be ruthless. Rashford has been anything but that today.”
Hargreaves also suggested that Rashford’s struggles are becoming a recurring issue for the team. According to him, United are creating opportunities but are failing to get the necessary end product from their attacking players.
“The worrying thing for Michael Carrick is that this is becoming a pattern. United are creating opportunities, but Rashford is not taking them.”
He also questioned Carrick’s decision to keep Rashford on the pitch when there were other attacking options available on the bench.
Hargreaves pointed to Shea Lacey and Joshua Zirkzee as players who could have offered United something different, particularly if Rashford continued to struggle.
“There are options available, and Carrick has to use them when a player is struggling this badly,” he added.
The situation was made even more frustrating for United because they were creating chances but were unable to turn their pressure into goals. Lammens was forced to make important saves, while United eventually found themselves behind following a Lisandro Martinez own goal.
Hargreaves believes Carrick had a difficult decision to make regarding Rashford, warning that leaving him on could increase the pressure if he continued to miss opportunities.
“If he leaves Rashford on and he continues to miss chances, the pressure will become unbearable. If he takes him off, it will look like a clear admission that Rashford is no longer trusted in that role.”
The pundit went even further by suggesting that Rashford’s form could eventually have consequences for Carrick himself if the situation continues.
“If Rashford continues performing like this, he could be the end of Carrick at Manchester United,” Hargreaves claimed.
For Hargreaves, the solution would have been to introduce more energy and movement into United’s attack. He suggested bringing Lacey on, moving Cunha back to the wing and using Mbeumo through the middle, while also considering Zirkzee depending on the situation.
Rashford undoubtedly has the ability to make a difference for Manchester United, but Hargreaves’ criticism was focused on his inability to make the most of his opportunities when they mattered.
With pressure already building around United’s performances and results, the forward’s form will continue to attract plenty of attention if he cannot turn his chances into goals.
Leave a Reply