Luke Shaw hails Marcus Rashford after goal for Manchester United against Bournemouth
Manchester United star Luke Shaw has hailed Marcus Rashford after the forward found the back of the net against Bournemouth. The 25-year-old scored the third goal against the Cherries in the 3-0 victory.
Luke Shaw hails Marcus Rashford after goal for Manchester United against Bournemouth. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
The Red Devils took on Gary O’Neil’s team at home on Tuesday (3 December) in the Premier League. In the end, the Old Trafford side recorded their fourth straight victory since the restart after the mid-season break.
Speaking to MUTV via Manchester Evening News, United’s left-back has been impressed with Rashford adding goals to his game. The former Southampton star feels the forward is going in the right direction.
Manchester United star Marcus Rashford has been hailed by Luke Shaw. (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images)
“Yeah, 100 per cent, I think he (Rashford]) is in a really good place. He’s extremely confident, looking so sharp and he kind of smells out the areas to be in to score the goals and I think you saw that tonight with the goal.
“He was in the right area, at the right time and he’s getting on the scoresheet more and more. He’s adding that to his game now and I think he’s going in the direction of a world-class player, so hopefully, he can keep it up.”
The 25-year-old has been in fine form for the Red Devils in the current campaign. He is currently the club’s leading goalscorer this season, having found the back of the net 12 times in 23 appearances.
It has been a remarkable turnaround from Rashford since last term. The England international had struggled to make an impact after returning from the Euro 2020 final for Manchester.
Fortunately, the arrival of Erik ten Hag has led to the 25-year-old finding his feet once again. Now, the forward seems to have gotten his confidence back and has scored consecutively in our previous four fixtures.
Against Bournemouth, Casemiro opened the scoring in the first half after a set-piece delivery from Christian Eriksen. We went into the break with a one-goal lead.
Subsequently, Shaw found the back of the net just a few minutes after the break. The 27-year-old was influential for the third goal as well, playing a brilliant ball in behind the Cherries’ defence to Bruno Fernandes, who put the ball on the plate for Rashford to successfully beat Mark Travers.
United will face Everton next in the FA Cup before the Carabao Cup tie against Charlton Athletic. Hopefully, our players can keep up their form and continue the winning run.
Erik ten Hag happy with progess and growing belief at Manchester United
Erik ten Hag said “belief is growing” at Manchester United after Tuesday’s 3-0 win over Bournemouth but insisted it is still too early to think about a Premier League title challenge.
Marcus Rashford scored for a fourth consecutive game to add to earlier strikes from Casemiro and Luke Shaw as United made it four wins in a row in the league, and 13 in the last 16 in all competitions.
The victory left United fourth, one point behind rivals Manchester City, who head to Chelsea on Thursday before their next league appointment comes in the derby at Old Trafford on January 14.
United’s recent form is a match for almost anyone, but Ten Hag tried to brush off a question about the title race.
“That’s a big step,” he said. “We have to go game to game, get the progress.
“Belief is growing and that’s a good sign, it’s good to have that feeling but we have to understand and be able to give 100 per cent in every game – 100 per cent energy, 100 per cent focus, 100 per cent playing as a team.
“If you keep that philosophy it’s possible but we have to go game to game and don’t think too far ahead. It’s now January so it’s not even half a season we are talking about.”
United secured what was a comfortable win despite only occasionally hitting top gear, with Casemiro’s goal the only shot on target in the first half.
Shaw created and finished the second, bursting from his own half, shifting the ball right and applying the finish when Alejandro Garnacho rolled in a low cross.
David De Gea then made saves to deny Philip Billing and Jaidon Anthony before Rashford finished things off in the 86th minute.
Ten Hag – who will wait until Wednesday for more information on a potentially serious injury to Donny van de Beek – said it had been far from a perfect performance and warned his team they needed to play smarter in the future.
“I think we have two top departments, attacking and defending, and a big gap in between, and that cost us a lot of energy,” he said. “We got into a tennis match and we don’t want to play tennis, we want to play football.
“We want to keep the ball, keep possession, recognise when to speed up and go for goal, but it cost us too much energy. The backline took a lot of risk and when it was difficult to get back we got stretched.
“It’s the next step we have to make and we are still in the process.”
Bournemouth boss Gary O’Neil called Saturday’s performance in the 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace the worst of his tenure, but was much happier with the display at Old Trafford despite the final score.
“I thought it was very good,” he said. “3-0 was hard on us. We had some really big chances. Their first goal was disappointing because we kept them at bay and didn’t really feel under threat at 0-0.
“The boys nailed the out-of-possession shape and we broke out a few times so to concede from a wide free-kick when we were well into the game was tough for them, we didn’t deserve it.
“After half-time we tried to be more aggressive in the press more often but we get caught and it’s 2-0. It’s a tough ask from that moment but the response was excellent and we had six big chances with David De Gea making big saves.
“The majority of United’s chances came when we opened the pitch up so there is lots to be pleased with.”
Source: weallfollowunited.com; planetsport.com
