Over the last few days I've read a couple of United-related interviews. Both fall into the category of "lockdown content" - remotely conducted, and since absolutely nothing is happening, giving us slightly different access to slightly different characters than the usual club PR driven fare.
There's an interview with Matteo Darmian, and another with Nemanja Matic. Neither are scintillating reads, but the bar is lower these days. What struck me was they both said similar things about Marcus Rashford, apparently talking about him not because they were asked directly but in response to wider questions.
If you're going to read one of them, then Darmian's interview is the better one, and interesting that he looks back on his time at United with pride. He mentions Rooney, and then:
'Then he pauses and says: “There was another player who really impressed me …" and his mind wanders back to the day when a certain teenager trained with the first team for the first time. The kid in question blew Darmian away. “I still remember Marcus Rashford’s first session with the senior squad like it was yesterday. I immediately thought: ‘Wow, this is an incredible player.’ He did so many impressive things for a player of his age and the way he improved in every detail really impressed me."
'In Darmian’s mind there is no limit to what Rashford can achieve if he stays fit and continues to develop. “If he continues to work the way he has done so far he can be a Ballon d’Or winner. I’m convinced of this. He impressed me the most of all the players at United and he’s very young and can still improve. For me he can reach the level of Kylian Mbappé and compete for the Ballon d’Or for years to come."'
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/may/03/matteo-darmian-marcus-rashford-kylian-mbappe-manchester-united-parma
...And here's Matic (who comes across about as charismatic as his football is expansive) :
'Asked to name United’s best player, Matic does not hesitate. “We have a lot of young players, but they have maybe not reached their top yet, but Marcus Rashford has the ability to be one of the best players in the world in his position. He’s still improving, but he has everything to reach that top level."'
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/may/07/nemanja-matic-interview-instagram-manchester-united-chelsea-benfica
How teammates see Rashford
posted on 7/5/20
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 10 minutes ago
comment by Joe The King Exotic (U10026)
posted 21 seconds ago
Interesting thing is that Rashford wasn’t that highly rated a youth player at United or in the England set up. It’s a testament to his personality that he’s managed to make the impact at senior level that he has so far.
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I agree.
With Greenwood there has always been massive hype but Rashford kind of cake out of nowhere.
If Greenwood has Rashford’s attitude he will be even better imo.
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Perhaps but so far rashford has a much better all round game than greenwood, who’s a brilliant finisher but hasn’t shown too much more than that...not that I’m complaining..he has plenty of time.
posted on 7/5/20
comment by Ole-Dirty-Baztard (U19119)
posted 59 seconds ago
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 10 minutes ago
comment by Joe The King Exotic (U10026)
posted 21 seconds ago
Interesting thing is that Rashford wasn’t that highly rated a youth player at United or in the England set up. It’s a testament to his personality that he’s managed to make the impact at senior level that he has so far.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I agree.
With Greenwood there has always been massive hype but Rashford kind of cake out of nowhere.
If Greenwood has Rashford’s attitude he will be even better imo.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Perhaps but so far rashford has a much better all round game than greenwood, who’s a brilliant finisher but hasn’t shown too much more than that...not that I’m complaining..he has plenty of time.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Greenwood has shown he has other aspects to his game when he has the ball but does struggle to get into games at times.
However i still think he is better than Rashford at 18 who’s 1st season was a little overrated due to his dream opening 2 games.
posted on 7/5/20
Always thought rashford was either over rated as a striker, or he isn't a natural striker.
Id take Abraham over him personally, as he seems more of a natural striker and generally more refined. I think he will be the more complete of the two, with time.
posted on 7/5/20
comment by FootyMcfootfoot (U21853)
posted 34 seconds ago
Always thought rashford was either over rated as a striker, or he isn't a natural striker.
Id take Abraham over him personally, as he seems more of a natural striker and generally more refined. I think he will be the more complete of the two, with time.
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I’m not sure about Abraham at all. Started the season well but just not convinced by him. Don’t know why.
posted on 7/5/20
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Ole-Dirty-Baztard (U19119)
posted 59 seconds ago
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 10 minutes ago
comment by Joe The King Exotic (U10026)
posted 21 seconds ago
Interesting thing is that Rashford wasn’t that highly rated a youth player at United or in the England set up. It’s a testament to his personality that he’s managed to make the impact at senior level that he has so far.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I agree.
With Greenwood there has always been massive hype but Rashford kind of cake out of nowhere.
If Greenwood has Rashford’s attitude he will be even better imo.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Perhaps but so far rashford has a much better all round game than greenwood, who’s a brilliant finisher but hasn’t shown too much more than that...not that I’m complaining..he has plenty of time.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Greenwood has shown he has other aspects to his game when he has the ball but does struggle to get into games at times.
However i still think he is better than Rashford at 18 who’s 1st season was a little overrated due to his dream opening 2 games.
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What about the winner versus city, leaving their defence for dead?
The beauty vs West Ham in the cup?
Gree wood has also had a great debut season but Rashford you could see based on those 8 or so games he was going to make it.
posted on 7/5/20
Greenwood lacks the explosiveness that Rashford has, had when he first broke through. If, and when, he’s more confident at senior level and develops more physically he could prove to the better all round forward of the two.
Whether he develops the physique to impact games in the way Rashford does remains to be seen, however, and as mentioned youth football isn’t a great barometer for what a player will show at senior level.
Angel Gomes won’t ever be as good as Rashford, in my opinion, despite being a superior youth footballer, because he’ll always be a little boy up against men.
posted on 7/5/20
comment by FootyMcfootfoot (U21853)
posted 5 minutes ago
Always thought rashford was either over rated as a striker, or he isn't a natural striker.
Id take Abraham over him personally, as he seems more of a natural striker and generally more refined. I think he will be the more complete of the two, with time.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Radhford isn’t a natural striker. He didn’t play that much as a striker at youth level before making it to the first team.
Rashford’s a much better all round player, however. Abraham looks ok, but Rashford’s shown far more to think he’ll be a staple for England and one of the better teams in the league. I think Abraham will likely fall down the pecking order for Chelsea and England in the next couple of years.
posted on 7/5/20
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 7/5/20
I've always had a feeling Rashford's greatest asset (like Ronaldo's) is his mentality, and that seems to be more and more evident over the last season or so, in his interviews, his emergence as a bit of a leader on the pitch - and also in the way we hear his peers talking about him. He comes across as an incredibly grounded, mature and mature lad; someone who doesn't look likely to reach a point where he thinks he's made it and doesn't need to push himself any further. I think he remembers where he comes from, and appreciates that sheer hard work has been key to everything. I haven't had such a strong sense that one of our youngsters *deserves* to make it for a very long time.
posted on 7/5/20
RR, yep good appraisal. It’s a shame he didn’t get the chance to play under Fergie, he’d have loved him.