Pranav Nair
Gareth Southgate sounds out World Cup warning to Manchester United duo Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho
According to The Daily Mail, England manager Gareth Southgate has warned Manchester United stars Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho that their World Cup spots could be in jeopardy.
Both players are among the Three Lions’ best young attackers and are proven at the top level. However, they are coming off a difficult 2021/22 campaign that has seen them struggle at Old Trafford.
Rashford and Sancho saw their summer get off to a poor start by missing their penalties in the Euro 2020 final. They carried over that form into the season and struggled to get going all season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick.
With Erik ten Hag now in charge, both players do have an opportunity to rekindle their careers at Old Trafford. Doing so will not just save their Man United careers but also see them on the plane to Qatar.
Southgate has called out Rashford and Sancho for their inability to shine at the club level. It would appear that they need to kickstart the 2022/23 campaign well or spend time on the sidelines.
“They’ve got to start playing well with their club. Neither of them have really played at the end of the season. England is a consequence of what you’re doing at your club and you’ve got to get your club bit right.”
Sancho has had moments of magic but Rashford was abject all campaign. He looked tired and a shadow of the player he once was.
At 24, he is yet to hit his prime and get back to the levels he promised to hit. Sancho too has underperformed since moving from Borussia Dortmund and will need to prove that the faith put in him is not misplaced.
Southgate will be keeping a keen eye on the duo’s performances under ten Hag. Time is running out for them to make a case to go before the World Cup in Qatar.
“It depends on getting in the team and impressing the manager there and starting the season well.”
More Manchester United News
- Manchester United are increasingly confident about reaching an agreement with Barcelona for Frenkie de Jong
- Arsenal join Manchester United in the transfer race to sign Barcelona target Raphinha
- Brighton target summer move for Manchester United star Axel Tuanzebe
It makes sense that Southgate has sounded out a warning of sorts to the Man United duo. With several other players impressing, there is little reason for the Red Devils’ stars to get the nod based on reputation. The perform or perish mantra will certainly give them more motivation to hit the ground running this season.
