Thomas Hein
Marcus Rashford had the best season of his career, leading Manchester United to a third-place finish and a return to the Champions League.
After the World Cup, Rashford hit top form, scoring in seven consecutive matches following his return from Qatar. He excelled in all competitions, surpassing the 30-goal mark for the first time, including 17 goals in the Premier League.
The 25-year-old displayed a clinical edge in the final third and seemed to regain the confidence that was shaken after his penalty miss in the Euro 2020 final against Italy. Rashford played a pivotal role in United’s push for a top-four finish and their EFL Cup victory over Newcastle United.
However, United’s aspirations go beyond securing a top-four spot as they aim to challenge Manchester City’s dominance. They are backed in the online Premier League betting odds to win the title at 11.00. Rashford will need to replicate his performances from the previous campaign in the top flight and potentially even surpass his goal tally, considering the high-scoring capabilities of City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and other rivals.
Consistency is the hallmark that all top players strive to achieve once they reach their peak. At the age of 25, Rashford is at the pinnacle of his game.
He is regarded as one of the Premier League’s best finishers, capable of causing havoc with his speed and skill. Rashford has also worked on improving other aspects of his game, such as vision and distribution, forming a potent partnership with Bruno Fernandes in the final third.
This was evident in his impressive run of form after the World Cup, where he netted 17 goals in 19 games, including a crucial strike in the EFL Cup final against Newcastle. During that period, United suffered just one defeat, a narrow loss to Arsenal on the road.
If Rashford can maintain that level of performance throughout an entire season, United will be genuine contenders for the Premier League title alongside Manchester City.
However, there were some warning signs in the final 18 matches of the season, during which Rashford scored only five times.
He notably struggled to make an impact in key matches, such as the Europa League quarter-final against Sevilla, the FA Cup final defeat to City, and Premier League losses to Brighton and Hove Albion and West Ham United. For United to mount a serious title challenge, Rashford needs to consistently perform at his best throughout the entire season, rather than just for a few months.
The challenge for Rashford extends beyond being sharp in front of the goal; he must also focus on staying fit and avoiding injuries. Towards the end of the campaign, he missed a few games that disrupted his rhythm. Despite playing a significant number of matches last season, totaling 64 in all competitions for club and country, Rashford’s form suffered due to his physical condition.
Rashford’s season began in August and concluded on June 19 with England’s Euro 2024 qualifier against North Macedonia. The demands of the season were demanding for most players across Europe who played domestically and in international competitions.
However, the demanding schedule did not prevent Harry Kane from scoring 30 Premier League goals for the second time in his career. Kane finished the campaign with a remarkable run of form, showcasing his endurance.
In the past two seasons, Kane has missed only one game in the Premier League for Tottenham while maintaining his peak performance. This serves as the standard that Rashford can aspire to in terms of consistency and longevity.
If Rashford can replicate the form he displayed between January and March throughout the entire campaign, Manchester United will possess the attacking prowess to match their rivals at the top of the Premier League. This could potentially eliminate the need for additional spending on another forward to complement Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Antony.
