Aston Villa signed Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United in the January transfer window and it's a move which is working out
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Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes
Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes(Image: PA)
When asked by Manchester United's in-house channel which player he'd choose to take a penalty, Bruno Fernandes mulled the options over in his head. He himself is a very capable spot kick converter, and United have boasted others in his era, including compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo.
The man Fernandes, United's current captain, opted for, however, was Marcus Rashford, who left the club to join Aston Villa on a loan basis in the January transfer window. While Rashford is yet to get off the mark in a claret and blue shirt, he has produced a number of assists and has earned himself an international recall with England.
There are signs that the loan arrangement, which sees Rashford now working under Unai Emery having been frozen out by Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford, is having the desired effect for the player and for Villa themselves, although no doubt the forward would love a goal in the near future.
The only penalty taken and scored during Rashford's spell at Villa Park up to now was in Brugge, when Villa prevailed 3-1 in the Champions League last 16 first leg; Marco Asensio, Rashford's fellow January arrival, converted late on after Rashford had been substituted.
In terms of trusting a player to take a penalty, though, Fernandes identified Rashford and outlined the change in technique which has made his dead ball game all the more deadly in recent times - and Villa now are benefitting from United's decision to cast him out.
“I think you had many in this club that were good penalty takers,” said Bruno. “Obviously, as I said, Cristiano, in decisive moments is very cold and he’s someone that is very well prepared mentally to take penalties in decisive moments.
“But I could say that Marcus is also, since he changed his technique, because before I came to the club, I’d never seen Marcus taking the penalties he’s obviously taking now.
“Obviously, he changed the way he takes his penalties as he waits for the goalkeeper much longer and before I came to the club I saw that he was going with a much quicker run-up to the goalkeeper without, like, having a side and just shooting there.
“Since he changed, he has a very, very high rate of success so I think he’s also someone that you could put into the mix.”
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