Rashford considered playing in midfield after 'confidence crisis'
Marcus Rashford’s former youth coach reveals that a ‘confidence crisis’ made the Manchester United attacker want to be a HOLDING MIDFIELDER early in his playing career
- Marcus Rashford is enjoying his best season at Man United in front of goal
- It comes off a season where the England star looked devoid of confidence
- A youth coach revealed Rashford had a ‘confidence crisis’ earlier in his career
Marcus Rashford is one of the most prolific finishers in the Premier League, but a confidence crisis earlier in his career left him wanting to play as a holding midfielder.
The England international is enjoying his best season yet with 27 goals in 45 games across all competitions.
He has taken a huge stride under Erik ten Hag, after looking devoid of confidence last campaign – where he netted just five times in 32 appearances.
Rashford showed a lot of promise as a forward during his time in the youth ranks, but a former coach of his has revealed how he wanted a change of position when things weren’t going so well.
Neil Ryan, who spent 15 years working for United’s academy before becoming England’s U18 boss, said as per FourFourTwo: ‘In the Under 12s and Under 13s he was fantastic and often up against older boys.
Marcus Rashford wanted to be a midfielder as a teenager due to an issue with confidence
Rashford (pictured in a U18s game in 2015) felt as though he didn’t have the pace to burn past players and didn’t have the same confidence as his coaches in his ability to be an attacker
Rashford has scored 27 goals in 45 games across all competitions in his best year to date
‘You didn’t feel that it was effortless like it was with Ravel Morrison. Marcus’ attitude and talent always stood out, but aged 14 he had a confidence crisis and wanted to be a holding midfielder.
‘I recall talking to his mother and brothers. He spoke about wanting to get on the ball more. He didn’t have the pace then to burn past others because he was still growing, but we always thought he’d be a forward.’
Ryan’s confidence in Rashford as a forward has certainly paid off for United, as he has scored 120 senior goals for the Red Devils in his career.
Having been convinced to stick things out as an attacker, Rashford was handed his senior debut for United by Louis van Gaal in February 2016 – at the age of 18.
The decision to stick as a forward paid off as he has scored 120 goals for Manchester United
He went on to net in his first Europa League and Premier League outings, while also hitting the back of the net in his debut for England.
There had been concerns that Rashford’s career was going downhill after a miserable 2021-22 season, but this year only three players (Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Ivan Toney) have scored more in the Premier League.
United are currently in a fight to make the top four and Rashford’s goals will be vital if they are to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
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