Ole on net gains made by Rashford
BOSS REFLECTS ON STRIKER’S CRUSADE TO HELP KIDS GET A FREE SCHOOL MEAL
He’s changed the lives of so many kids, which is more important than any game of football
Solskjaer on Rashford
OLE Gunnar Solskjaer says Marcus Rashford’s crusade to extend free school meal vouchers for children is more important than anything he has done for United.
Rashford, 22, penned an open letter to the government after it had previously insisted its free school meal vouchers would not be issued outside term time.
Wythenshawe-born Rashford recalled his own childhood experiences of dependence on free school meals and food banks and his empathy has chimed with millions nationwide after he enforced the extension into the summer.
“As his manager it’s been fantastic to follow Marcus during the lockdown period,” Solskjaer said. “It’s not just that he got the Prime Minister to change his mind but also what he’s done over the last few months.
“Marcus is such a top, top human being. He’s brought his own experiences as a kid into this conversation and changed the lives of so many kids. He’s already been captain of the club at such a young age and he’s proving all the time his human qualities, which is a main attribute for a United player, along with his qualities as a player of course.
“What Marcus has done has been incredible with his family, with his own personality, of course. Marcus has always been a great human being and, coming up through the academy, I think the club recognised that early on and gave him chances. Of course, we saw the talent, but you need to be a really good human being as well to come all the way.
“He’s changed the lives of so many kids this summer, which is more important than any game of football he’ll probably have ever played, so hopefully he can keep both sides going as well as he’s doing now.”
The health secretary Matt Hancock was criticised for calling on footballers to take a pay cut at the height of the lockdown and could not even get Rashford’s name right in a media appearance on Wednesday morning, referring to him as ‘Daniel Rashford.’ Solskjaer believes footballers became ‘easy targets’ at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. “Me at 22, of course I wouldn’t be in a position to effect change like this. I don’t think Marcus is thinking about this politically, or in any other way than helping people and kids and he knows deep inside he’s helped children with food now and to change their lives, and it makes him feel good about himself.
“And using his position as a role model, a Man United player, a top player, he can effect people in a good way, it’s not about him or anything bigger than that. “As a group they’ve been criticised a lot, even during this lockdown period.”