Marc my word, I’m a much better player
LONDON: Marcus Rashford has admitted that he’s a “completely different player” to the one that took Manchester United by storm last season.
The striker burst onto the scene last year after scoring four goals in his first two matches under Louis van Gaal.
But despite finishing the season with eight goals – and being one of the few England players to emerge from Euro 2016 with any credit – Rashford has had a relatively quiet season under new manager Jose Mourinho.
The 19-year-old has been a clear second choice behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic and hasn’t scored in the English Premier League since September.
While the Swede has been excellent in his debut season at Old Trafford, Rashford has had “second season syndrome”.
He’s started just 11 Premier League games, coming off the bench 11 more times, and scored only three goals.
Rashford has only eight goals and 20 starts in all competitions.
But the teenager, who has spent a lot of time on the wing, thinks he is a much better all-round player – even if the goals haven’t come as quickly.
He said: “I am quite hard on myself but people around me are always pushing me.
“All my focus is just on trying to improve for the future and to make history for my club and the country.
“I’m a completely different player now compared to where I was this time last season.
“People don’t always look at that, they look at the results but they don’t look at what you do to get the results. “When it all comes together people will start to realise. My overall game is different now.”
Rashford says playing on the wing and being more involved in play will aid him in future.
“I’ve been playing in wider positions and it’s helped me know what the forwards want from me when I’m out wide,” he added.
“That helps me and it also helps me know what the winger wants when I get in the middle.
“The modern-day attacker is not just a No. 9 or No. 10 or just a winger. It is someone who can interchange between the positions if they are needed to.
“I think I’m a No. 9 but if I have to move to other positions for certain games it is what you have to do and it is part of your attributes.”