Rashford goes from unplayed to unplayable.
Marcus Rashford has gone from being the unplayed to the unplayable this season. His experience at Manchester United, not playing and needing to get out, and now flourishing at Aston Villa is more than a one-man, two-club story. Rashford gets debated relentlessly, and many people would argue excessively, but his story does provide a window on the modern game: the art of man-management, how to get the best out of a talent, and what makes a player smile more, a ball at his feet or bullion in the bank?
Rashford’s headline-grabbing performance in Villa’s valiant, if vainful attempt to reel in Paris St-Germain has intensified the debate. He put in nine crosses, created four chances, had a glorious assist for Villa’s third, was denied by another Gianluigi Donnarumma wonder-save and was withdrawn for Ollie Watkins with 14 minutes remaining, controversially early in the eyes of some Villa fans.
He had 42 touches: 12 in the PSG box, seven high on the right, 11 left of centre hurtling towards the area and only three in his own half. Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, knows to bring the best out of Rashford is to get the ball to him high up the pitch, get him running at defenders, not tracking back. It’s a brave approach, almost excusing a player his duties out of possession, although Rashford does put in occasional high-speed presses (albeit with that annoying habit that some strikers have of easing up at the last second).
The positives outweigh the negatives, and during a domestic season when many commentators have bemoaned the lack of thrill-making and risk-taking, Emery’s supporting and unleashing of Rashford should be commended. He carries the ball at speed towards the opposition, feinting, nutmegging, risking losing possession, but the potential rewards are significant. He scared PS-G. Rashford playing as he did in the second half is a very exciting sight. The contrast with Rasmus Hojlund’s labours back at United is very obvious. So many more questions need answering with Rashford.