Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford helped fire Aston Villa to Wembley
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Sport
Updated 16:55, 30 Mar 2025
Aston Villa's Marcus Rashford
Aston Villa's Marcus Rashford
Unai Emery believes that Marcus Rashford has taken a step forward in his adaptation at Aston Villa by scoring a brace in the FA Cup quarter-finals but was reluctant to discuss the possibility of signing the Manchester United loanee permanently.
Rashford bagged his first two goals for the club at Deepdale, firing Villa through to the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley, where Crystal Palace awaits Emery’s side.
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“We played a serious match,” Emery said. “We had been conceding a lot of goals in every competition. We needed to reduce that—both goals and chances. The best thing we did today was playing seriously and limiting their opportunities.
“Progressively, we felt more comfortable. The first half was balanced, but we didn’t concede any clear chances. We had some corners, but no real threats. After we scored the first goal, it became difficult for them, and we grew more comfortable. We played the full 90 minutes with responsibility and used our qualities effectively on the field.”
When asked about Rashford, Emery praised the forward’s commitment: “Firstly, his willingness to work and adapt quickly is very important—and he’s doing it. To feel comfortable and play at his best level, there is still work to do. It will take weeks. But today, he took a step forward—feeling more confident, adapting better, and scoring goals.
“He is improving, but today was a significant step in his adaptation and in helping us. This is an exciting time—for the team, the players, and the supporters. Now, heading into April, we are motivated and ambitious. We have many objectives ahead.
READ MORE: Marcus Rashford masterclass as Aston Villa romp home at Deepdale - pictures and match report
“He is fitting into the system and the plan we have for him. He has played as a winger on the left and also as a striker. Today, we opted to use him as a striker to maximize his qualities and boost his confidence.
“In the first half, he wasn’t fully comfortable, but in the second half, he grew into the game, scoring goals. There is still work to do—building with his teammates and improving his overall adaptation.
“Today was a clear step forward. When he first arrived, he wasn’t training consistently and didn’t feel fully fit in his early matches. But with more game time and involvement with the national team, he is regaining sharpness. Today confirmed his progress with us.”
Villa hold a £40m option to sign Rashford permanently from United at the end of the season. However, Emery was hesitant to discuss this after the match.
“Not yet,” he said when asked about the potential transfer. “Right now, the most important thing is the challenge ahead—recovering and preparing for the match against Brighton tomorrow. Still there are a lot of matches to play. If we are in the Champions League, if we are in the Europa League, if we are in the European Conference League or not in Europe or winning a trophy, it is completely different.
"A decision about each individual players … it is to get the best of them and the best of us. We don’t want to waste time speaking about it."
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