Marcus Rashford has potential to fill Cristiano Ronaldo's boots at Man Utd, says Paul Scholes - 'He's taken that mantle'
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Published 14/01/2023 at 12:47 GMT
Marcus Rashford can fill Cristiano Ronaldo's boots at Manchester United after building muscle and becoming a match-winner this season, says Paul Scholes. The England international is in superb form ahead of Saturday's Premier League derby against Manchester City, scoring seven goals in his last six games. Rio Ferdinand has also been impressed by the 25-year-old's development this season.
Ten Hag believes Rashford has more to offer Man Utd
Marcus Rashford is showing the potential to become as decisive as Cristiano Ronaldo for Manchester United after bulking up and scoring crucial goals recently, according to Paul Scholes.
Ronaldo’s second spell at Old Trafford came to an awkward end in November when his contract was terminated following an explosive interview with Piers Morgan.
But Rashford has stepped up in the Portugal international’s absence with a superb run of recent form, scoring three goals in three Premier League games ahead of Saturday’s derby against Manchester City.
“His physique, he looks stronger, he looks more powerful, almost in the Cristiano mould,” former United midfielder Scholes said on BT Sport.
“Doing stuff like this, it’s like he’s taken that mantle off Cristiano, of being that match-winner.
“He’s done it for a shorter period of time, can he go on? A new manager has helped with a bit more discipline. We saw what happened a few weeks ago and he knows he can’t do that," Scholes said in reference to Rashford being dropped for some poor timekeeping.
“The way he’s going, he has become a match winner. Not yet like Cristiano, it’s too early to say but I think there is potential there.”
Rashford came off the bench to score a brace against Charlton in a midweek Carabao Cup quarter-final.
The 25-year-old has now scored seven goals in seven games across all competitions since returning from the World Cup with England, where he netted three times in the group stage.
“He looks like a different beast. He looks like he is growing into his frame now and turning into a man,” said former United defender Rio Ferdinand.
“I’ve watched a few games recently and he looks like the oldest kid in the playground at times. That is testament to being fully fit, also the work going on behind the scenes with him and a manager who looks like he has good, strong belief in him.
“His mindset… it is one of the big things. He looks more aggressive, more on it and ‘I am the man. No one is taking the spotlight, I am that guy’.
“He has done it over eight games, we want to see it over a season and then beyond. The vein of form he is in now, he is up there with the best of them right now.”
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