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Marcus Rashford has taken a huge step forward in his adaptation at Aston Villa.
Unai Emery believes Marcus Rashford is moving closer to being fully bedded into Aston Villa’s structural identity following the attacker’s first two goals for the club.
Rashford netted a five-minute double salvo on Sunday as Villa saw off Preston North End 3-0, booking a ticket to the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley in the process. Emery controversially started Rashford as the solo striker, leaving Ollie Watkins - who had been passed fit before the game - on the substitutes’ bench.
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Emery has typically preferred utilising Rashford as a left winger but he decided to switch things up at Deepdale and the tactical tweak paid off. The first goal was a proper striker’s finish as Rashford instinctively poked home from a low Lucas Digne cross. The second, meanwhile, was a very clever penalty as he didn’t once look at the ball, instead staring down the eyes of North End goalkeeper Dai Cornell until he made his first move.
Signing Rashford - on loan or not - was always going to be a risk for Villa but Emery is proving once again just how good he is at helping out-of-sorts players recover their best form. Rashford isn’t there just yet, Emery believes, but he’s shifting closer by putting in the hard yards.
“Firstly, his commitment to work and adapt quickly is very important. He is doing it. To feel comfortable playing at his best level, there is still work to do. Weeks to get it,” Emery admitted at Deepdale.
“Today, he did one step forward, feeling comfortable, gaining confidence and scoring goals. He was getting better, but today was a step forward in his adaptation and helping us.
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“He is playing in the idea and plan we are doing with him. He played more as a winger on the left side and the striker. Today we decided to play him as a striker to get of him his qualities so he can feel confident. The first half, not completely, but the second half he felt better with scoring goals.”
Unai Emery aims subtle dig at Ruben Amorim
Unai Emery believes Marcus Rashford has taken a big step forward at Aston Villa after leaving Manchester United.Unai Emery believes Marcus Rashford has taken a big step forward at Aston Villa after leaving Manchester United.
Unai Emery believes Marcus Rashford has taken a big step forward at Aston Villa after leaving Manchester United. | Getty Images
Rashford, one of Manchester United’s most successful academy graduates in recent history with 138 goals and 64 assists in a whopping 426 appearances, should be serenaded by all at Old Trafford. But his Red Devils career came to a sour end as he was publicly lambasted by Ruben Amorim.
The claim from Man Utd’s manager was that Rashford wasn’t putting in enough effort. But Emery, who doesn’t take any nonsense - especially when it comes to work rates - believes Rashford has shown an exemplary attitude so far. There couldn’t be a bigger contrast, with Rashford already loved and appreciated by the Villa Park faithful.
“He was coming here in the last two months not training consistently and not feeling very fit in the first matches with us,” Emery added, perhaps point a subtle dig at Amorim.
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“There is still work to do and adaptation to get together, the teammates and himself. After playing more and with the national team, it has helped him to feel better. Today was confirmation of his progression with us.”
In other news, Emery responds to a question about signing Rashford permanently.