The life of an elite professional footballer is enjoyed by a select few and tackled alongside an accepted barrage of daily scrutiny, as Manchester United man Marcus Rashford knows all too well.
Having endured back-to-back Premier League defeats followed by the departure of Dan Ashworth, a media onslaught was inevitable for the 20-time English champions.
The latest in a long list of exclusives suggests Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos team are open to selling all but a handful of players, with the Telegraph Sport addressing a concern about Rashford’a lifestyle and distractions away from the club.
As you would expect, the regular debate has surfaced online with a contingent battling either side of an argument about the suitability of the Wythenshawe man for Ruben Amorim’s team.
Realistically, at 27, the attacker should be a leading figure for his boyhood team and an integral cog for Ratcliffe’s rebuild.
But, inconsistency has ravaged his stock for club and country, and an often dejected-looking man appears to be losing the battle for his career in the North West.
Amidst preparations for a congested December schedule before the door opens ahead of the January transfer window, could we be approaching the beginning of the end of another memorable story at the Theatre of Dreams?
Rashford in Red
In truth, I could happily construct a biography about the rise of a teenage Rashford at Carrington into Louis van Gaal’s first team (by all means, reach out).
But we live in the present, and sentiment will not prevail in rebuilding the fortunes of the world’s most beloved football club.
Goals win games, and Amorim requires clinical footballers to complement his ideals.
Unlike the misfiring forward line of Erik ten Hag, senior squad members must stand up to shoulder expectations, particularly those amongst the highest earners at the club.
As a football supporter, I adore Marcus Rashford’s journey and the battles he has overcome to achieve his dream.
His brace against FC Midtjylland in the Europa League and the wild celebrations alongside Dean Henderson and other supporters in the crowd live long in the memory of the Old Trafford faithful.
But that was 2016.
Presently, he is a senior member in a group that occupies 13th in the Premier League with a total goal tally of 19 from 15 outings – he has contributed four.
However, this skewed idea that it is all his fault and he is the common denominator for nearly a decade of disappointment is simply sensationalism.
Furthermore, the toxicity and downright disgusting behaviour of nameless faces on social media is the definition of counterproductive activity.
But there is ample logic in analysing the player and his output to convey a broad understanding of his suitability for the side in moving forward.
Within this, there is a definitive drop in numbers, and regardless of the reasoning behind this, criticism is warranted when assessing the player.
The figures behind the man
The Premier League has been the most competitive competition that Rashford has competed in annually throughout his career.
Since his domestic debut against Arsenal in February 2016, he has supplied 128 goal contributions in 287 Premier League appearances, with one coming every 154 minutes played.
The figure represents an average of 8.7 goals with 12.8 total contributions per Premier League season.
Worryingly, since 2021, he has provided 42 goal contributions in 108 league appearances, with one every 176 minutes played.
Furthermore, his most profitable campaign of 2022-23 accounted for 52.38% of his output during this period. To clarify, acknowledging this is not an attempt to belittle or play down his accomplishments, but we must view a comprehensive picture of the situation.
| Premier League Figures | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 2024/25 | 15 | 4 | 1 |
| 2023/24 | 33 | 7 | 2 |
| 2022/23 | 35 | 17 | 5 |
| 2021/22 | 25 | 4 | 2 |
| 2020/21 | 37 | 11 | 9 |
| 2019/20 | 31 | 17 | 7 |
| 2018/19 | 33 | 10 | 6 |
| 2017/18 | 35 | 7 | 5 |
| 2016/17 | 32 | 5 | 2 |
| 2015/16 | 11 | 5 | 2 |
Undeniably, the attacker was unplayable during this period. He was scintillating and confident as a forward leader for this football club.
But 11 goals and three assists in 48 appearances since paints an altogether different scenario. Additionally, this introverted character does not cut the image of a happy man and often looks like he would prefer to be elsewhere.
That is an observation, and I may be incorrect. But this is a view shared by most people I converse with.
Is there something else at play?
There is an alternative factor to consider and one that many choose to ignore. Is Marcus Rashford capable of managing every requirement to replicate 22/23, or have his talents been overstated by those in the club?
Jimmy Williams is a cognitive behavioural therapist who analyses mental preparation to determine the key aspects of achieving high performance in elite athletes. He previously spoke with Shaun Connolly on the Theatre of Red podcast and offered his view on the troubled superstar.
“I don’t personally think Rashford is at that elite level – sometimes, I think he is judged off an unfair level,” the Prestige Performance host stated. “I wonder was the one-in-five season the outlier?
“Not in a bad way, but I don’t think he is at the elite level – I think he is a very good player.
“I think sometimes he is judged as an elite player when possibly he’s not that. Possibly, we saw him outperforming for one year.”
Is this opinion ludicrous? No, it is a viable possibility and could go a long way to deciphering this perennial debate surrounding the player.
Regardless of personal opinion and the endless conversations about his suitability for the club, he has played under eight different coaches (five permanent) and endured multiple highs and lows throughout a stagnant Glazer ownership.
As we approach a January transfer where the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules loom large over Ratcliffe’s aspirations, the destinations for a troubled star on £300k and then some per week are limited.
Viktoria Plzen, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Bournemouth, Wolves and Newcastle represent six fixtures that may hold the key to the future of Marcus Rashford.
Will the local lad who holds his boyhood club so dear find the required grit to thrive under Ruben Amorim, or will he make way for the next generation of academy starlets to lead the future?
Leave us know your thoughts in the comments or across our social channels.
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