Marcus Rashford sat on the bench for Manchester United's final home game of 2021/22 — a solid 3-0 win over Brentford, their only victory in the last six league games of their worst Premier League campaign on record. His personal goal tally read four in 25 league appearances, and just five overall in 32 matches in all competitions.
He hadn't played a full 90 minutes of a United victory for five months. Rashford, and the Red Devils, were going nowhere. The idea that, 12 months later, he would become the first United player in a decade to hit 30 in a single season was laughable.
Rashford has certainly been smiling lately.
After coming off the bench for the injured Antony, Rashford scored United's fourth in their 4-1 drubbing of Chelsea on Thursday — a result that guaranteed they will play Champions League football in 2023/24. Having dummied past Wesley Fofana and seen his shot half-saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga, Rashford tapped in from a yard out for goal 30 across all competitions, a tally last reached in the red shirt by Robin van Persie in 2012/13.
This season has seen Rashford reborn. Erik ten Hag and his coaching staff have helped the forward rebuild himself, physically, tactically, and mentally — hence his now famous, often-imitated celebration. He is an undisputed star of his boyhood team, playing with confidence, purpose, and ruthlessness.
Yet his manager wants more. Much more.
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With one game to go, Man United have already exceeded last season's Premier League points tally by 14. They have conceded 15 fewer goals and kept the most clean sheets (17) of any side in the division.
Ten Hag has claimed 40 wins from his 60 matches in charge in all competitions, qualified for the Champions League, won the Carabao Cup and reached the final of the FA Cup. However, the former Ajax boss has made it clear throughout the campaign that there is much room for improvement — not least in goalscoring.
30/20 - Marcus Rashford is the first @ManUtd player to score 30 goals in a season (all competitions) since Robin van Persie in 2012-13, and the first to net 20 at Old Trafford since Wayne Rooney in 2009-10. Prolific. #MUNCHE pic.twitter.com/6sYrRF2DVm
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 25, 2023
If they don't find the net on the final day against Fulham, United will actually fall one goal short of last season's tally of 57. They have attempted 443 shots from open play in the league, the second-highest figure of any side (behind Brighton & Hove Albion on 467); those open-play shots have yielded 49.45 expected goals, putting them in the top five for the division, but they have only scored 44 open-play goals. Only they and Liverpool among that group have underperformed in that regard.
Rashford himself has actually exceeded his xG figure for non-penalty goals in the Premier League, scoring 17 from 14.7 xG, but much of that owes to a blistering run of 10 goals in as many league games from December 27 to February 2. In the 10 league matches since, he's only scored three times, underperforming his xG by nearly 2.0.
Premier League top scorers 2022/23
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals (PKs) | Assists | Matches | Mins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Erling Haaland | Man City | 36 (7) | 8 | 35 | 2,776 |
| 2. | Harry Kane | Tottenham | 28 (5) | 3 | 37 | 3,316 |
| 3. | Ivan Toney | Brentford | 20 (6) | 4 | 33 | 2,953 |
| 4. | Mo Salah | Liverpool | 19 (2) | 11 | 37 | 3,204 |
| 5. | Callum Wilson | Newcastle | 18 (3) | 5 | 30 | 1,864 |
| 6. | Marcus Rashford | Man United | 17 (0) | 5 | 34 | 2,811 |
| 7. | Martin Odegaard | Arsenal | 15 (0) | 7 | 36 | 3,068 |
| Gabriel Martinelli | Arsenal | 15 (0) | 5 | 36 | 2,805 | |
| 9. | Ollie Watkins | Aston Villa | 14 (1) | 6 | 36 | 3,044 |
| Aleksandar Mitrovic | Fulham | 14 (4) | 1 | 23 | 1,931 |
Ten Hag on Rashford: Man United manager sets target
Ten Hag has been effusive in his praise for Rashford this season, but he is also well aware that the player's ceiling is a high one. The United manager is keen for his star forward to see this 30-goal season as a stepping stone to greatness, not the peak of his career.
"I think, yeah, there's a lot of room for improvement in his game," he said after the Chelsea game. "I'm convinced he could score even more.
"For instance, in the last 10 games, he didn't score so many goals — I think two, or three — so he can improve.
50 - Marcus Rashford has scored his 50th away goal for Manchester United in all competitions, at least 19 more than any other player for the club since his debut in February 2016. Arrow. pic.twitter.com/W680MNKE6a
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 27, 2023
"I'm happy with where he was last season and what he did now. He brings himself back. We supported him where we could, in the way of playing but also with his mindset. We are happy with that, but we have to push for more. I'm sure he's capable of scoring 40 goals in a season. So, also for him, it's the next step.
"Across the squad, we need more scoring abilities. But it can also come out of this squad. But we need more scoring abilities."
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Man United will do 'everything' to win FA Cup final
That United have improved under Ten Hag is beyond question. To go from the miserable final months of 2021/22 under interim boss Ralf Rangnick, navigate the problems caused by Cristiano Ronaldo's explosive interview and acrimonious departure and the hammerings by Brentford and Manchester City early in the season, and qualify for the Champions League while reaching two cup finals, is commendable.
United won the first against Newcastle United to end a six-year trophy drought. The second, against Man City, is in a week's time. Not only is it an opportunity to win a second piece of silverware in his debut season — and put a stop to their rivals' treble dreams — it's also Ten Hag's chance to show whether United are any closer to City's standards and, therefore, if they can challenge for the title next year.
"We have to look to ourselves. We want to win the cup, but that is next Sunday. We have to do everything in our power," he said.
"I think, on many aspects, we can improve with this group of players, with this team. And I know where we have to improve. There is a lot of room for improvement."
