Rashford really makes his Marc on the left wing
A MAN-OF-THE-MATCH display, including two goals, against bitter rivals Liverpool. Surely after that Marcus Rashford would line up in his favoured role on the left wing against Seville? Surely?
No. Rashford inexplicably started the game on the right wing and while United fans expected there to be a bit of fluidity in attack, at least when it came to players swapping positions, there was little evidence of that on Tuesday night. Even when Alexis Sanchez was struggling.
The Chilean made an encouraging start to his United career and has predominantly played in his favoured role on the left, but he has done little to justify his place there – let alone in the starting line-up in recent weeks.
Going forward, you wonder whether Sanchez will be better deployed in the No.10 role, just off Romelu Lukaku, with Juan Mata knitting everything together on the right and Rashford and Anthony Martial battling it out on the left.
Sanchez may have floundered against Sevilla, but it would be a surprise if Mourinho dropped him for the FA Cup quarter-final against Brighton. Or even moved him out of his favoured role on the left – and that is bad news for Rashford and Martial going forward.
Despite being right footed, and remarkably fast, Rashford just never looks all that comfortable playing on the right wing. The 20-year-old almost stutters as he approaches a one-on-one with a full-back.
It is no longer an open secret. It was there for all to see when Gareth Southgate bizarrely started Rashford on the right for England against Slovakia in September.
To be fair to the Three Lions’ boss, he was humble enough to rectify his mistake and pushed Rashford over to the left after he gave the ball away for Slovakia’s shock opener. And the youngster responded. Immediately.
Firstly, he set up Eric Dier’s equaliser and then he scored England’s winner. As much as that turnaround was down to Rashford’s character and resilience at Wembley, he is at his devastating best on the left, where he can run the line and cut inside onto his favoured right foot.
Rashford has terrorised countless full-backs from the left; Trent Alexander-Arnold is no slouch, but Rashford embarrassed him on Saturday when Liverpool rolled into Manchester.
The week began with Mourinho ridiculing Frank de Boer’s bizarre comments that ‘it was a pity’ Rashford played under the United boss and it is true that no other player has featured in more games for United since the Portuguese took charge.
But he needs to be played in his best position