Erik ten Hag has labelled Marcus Rashford ‘a big guy’ for Manchester United after the forward’s brace against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup.
The Reds beat Barnsley 7-0 on Tuesday night at Old Trafford.
Rashford, 26, continued to show fine form in front of goal after scoring against Southampton in the Premier League, to bag two more goals versus the Tykes.
The goal against Southampton ended a six-month goal drought. Now he has three goals in two matches.
Ten Hag will hopefully unlock Rashford’s abilities like he did in his first season at the club. Rashford scored 30 goals in Ten Hag’s maiden campaign as United lifted the Carabao Cup after beating Newcastle in the final at Wembley.
The manager has admitted life is easier when Rashford is in form.
“The goals not only have to come from Marcus Rashford,” Ten Hag said, as quoted by The Mirror. “We need more goalscorers but I know from my first season here when he scores then it’s [easier] for the team when you have a player in your squad who is a guarantee for goals.
“Then it can make the difference. You can do a lot of things very good between the boxes but football matches are decided in the box.
“I’m not only expecting this from Marcus Rashford, I expect it from others who are in the prime of their career but we also have some others who are high potentials, they are very hungry to score goals. But more important they want to win, to win games and win trophies.
“Confidence is a big part of it, it is not everything, there are also other parts but confidence is a big part and I think Rashford is a big guy. He’s scored so many goals, he’s one in the list of (current) United goalscorers, he is on top of it, so he is a big guy.
“But you are as good as your last game and every time you have to prove it. But I have even seen the biggest guys, the biggest football players, when they are not performing and when strikers are not scoring, they drop in confidence, it doesn’t matter who.”
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