Marcus Rashford

[penk22_]

Van Gaal: Quality is more important than age

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal insists young players should be judged on their ability and not their age, following speculation that Marcus Rashford could be in contention for the England squad ahead of this summer's European Championship.

The striker has made an excellent start to life in the Reds' first team, netting four goals in his first two games, including a brace in last weekend's 3-2 win over Arsenal at Old Trafford.

Rashford was named Player of the Month for February ahead of Memphis Depay and Jesse Lingard and has been tipped for a call-up to the national team, a suggestion that van Gaal believes has not necessarily come too soon for the youngster, even if he felt Roy Hodgson had been asked a leading question on the matter.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, the United manager said: "I think Roy Hodgson has answered the question and you are asking again. I don't pay a lot of attention to that as that is the media, not Roy Hodgson or I.

"You are putting the question but saying that Roy Hodgson is saying something. However, it is never too early [for Rashford]. As I have said before, age is not important. Age is not important, it is quality."

Three Lions boss Hodgson previously had his say, ahead of England's upcoming friendlies against Germany and the Netherlands at the end of the month.

"I would neither rule him [Rashford] in or rule him out, I just hope he can do well," he told reporters. "I have been watching Rashford for two years, so I have known about him for a long time. He is in our system.

"He plays for the [England] Under-18 team, so we are delighted that a player playing for our Under-18s, players who we believe in and who we think have got a bright future, are getting chances in the first team. I hope he has a good end to the season. Most of all, I hope he is allowed to develop as an 18-year-old should and people don't try to put him under enormous pressure.

"Scoring four goals in three games is a great achievement and, if he can keep that up, it is great for Manchester United and England."

http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2016/Mar/Louis-van-Gaal-says-Marcus-Rashford-should-be-judged-on-quality-over-age.aspx

[HaRrY-UIK]

Semoga nasibnya baik gak kayak youngster terdahulu (cc: Macheda)

Gak kayak local hero yang lain (cc: Welbeck)

Aset masa depan nih. Main jadi lone-striker oke, di sayap juga boleh speednya dan teknik individunya

[penk22_]

What Marcus Rashford did at school after Manchester United beat Arsenal



Marcus Rashford celebrated his Manchester United brace against Arsenal by playing pool in his school's sixth-form common room.

Rashford, 18, and his United teammates attend the Ashton on Mersey school, where they continue their studies away from United's Carrington training complex.

“I walked into the sixth-form common room on Monday morning, before lessons began, and Marcus Rashford was playing pool with one of the other sixth-form boys,” the school's head teacher, Aidan Moloney, told the Telegraph . “Marcus and Tim Fosu-Mensah wanted to be at school on Monday. They wanted to be around their friends.



“The staff went over to congratulate Marcus and Tim, and then at 9am, the bell went and they were straight down to lessons.”

The school has provided education for United’s trainees since 1998 and Moloney says it provides a 'grounding' for United's youngsters.

“Marcus arrived at this school when he was 12, so he has grown up with the other pupils here,” Moloney added. “I don’t believe he wanted a big fuss making of him on Monday.

“And the fact is that Marcus has not achieved anything yet in terms of his football career. He’s done very well with an opportunity he has received, and that’s as far as it goes at this point.

“We have to make sure the boys have a grounding, and the set-up here is part of that.

“When young players come to Manchester United and then come to us, there’s a very strong message they get that they are representing themselves and the club, and that they should be a good role model.

“We set out the standards we expect, because there is the possibility otherwise that a negative type of football culture can be dragged into the school. It would be wrong for me to say that there is never any inappropriate behaviour, because boys will be boys, but that behaviour is challenged. The boys are also made aware that they are part of the school, and they fit in with that.”

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/marcus-rashford-manchester-united-school-10995103

[Andi Istiabudi]

TIMELINE: RASHFORD'S CRAZY WEEK

It has been a story that could have been lifted straight from the pages of Roy of the Rovers or any fictional footballing tale.

A call into the starting line-up mere minutes ahead of kick-off in a European tie at Old Trafford to not only hand Marcus Rashford his debut but thrust the level-headed local lad into the limelight. The loss of key forward Anthony Martial appeared to be a serious blow as Manchester United faced the ignominy of a shock exit to Danish side Midtjylland, following a 2-1 reverse in Denmark a week earlier.

In the first of three home games in succession, some would have expected the Reds' season to crumble in the face of such adversity, with Martial adding to a lengthening injury list, but, instead, the mood is now buoyant just over a week later.

United can look forward to a two-legged Europa League tie with arch rivals Liverpool and are now three points behind fourth-placed Manchester City. The man, or boy, at the centre of this resurgence in confidence is Rashford, known only to followers of the club's younger teams before his dramatic debut. Here is the timeline of his incredible week.

Thursday 25 February

20:00 Marcus Rashford is in the tunnel and ready to make his senior debut after Anthony Martial felt his hamstring in the warm-up. The 18-year-old is plunged into the first team in the key centre-forward role as the Reds strive to overturn a 2-1 deficit against Midtjylland in the Europa League. BBC 5 Live describe it as a "massive setback" for Louis van Gaal.

21:26 Rashford grabs his first goal, levelling the aggregate scores by steering home a cross from Juan Mata to make it 2-1 on the night, after United had fallen behind and then drawn level through an own goal.

21:38 It's a dream debut double for the teenager as he sweeps home Guillermo Varela's cross with his right foot to hand the home side a 4-3 aggregate lead.

21:56 United run out 5-1 victors on the night, 6-3 overall, with Memphis Depay sealing a comprehensive win with a solo effort late on.

22:44 Van Gaal is full of praise for the exciting prospect, explaining how he told Marcus to stay in the middle. "In the first half, he ran too much out wide," said the boss. "I said he needs to be in front of goal to score. It's fantastic for him."

23:00 It's confirmed that, at 18 years and 117 days, Marcus has become United's youngest scorer in Europe, breaking George Best's record that stood for over half a century.

Sunday 28 February

13:00 The team news for Arsenal is released and Rashford keeps his place in attack, with Martial still out due to his hamstring problem. The consensus is this will be a huge step up for the youngster as the Gunners are chasing the title and defeated United 3-0 in the reverse fixture.

14:00 It's a Premier League debut for Rashford, who becomes the fourth-youngest player to make a start in the division for the club. Only Phil Neville, Federico Macheda and Rafael were younger.

14:18 Rashford is spent sprawling inside the box after dashing past Gabriel. Referee Craig Pawson awards a free-kick, much to the home fans' disgust.

14:34 He's on the mark again! The Academy product slams past Petr Cech after good work by Ander Herrera and Varela. Old Trafford goes wild as United draw first blood!

14:36 Incredibly, Rashford scores again to double the lead over the crestfallen Gunners. It's a glancing header this time, perfectly placed, following Jesse Lingard's inviting ball into the box. The crowd can scarcely believe what they are seeing but van Gaal's men are in the driving seat.

15:27 After taking a painful knock, he receives treatment and Arsenal are back in the game thanks to Danny Welbeck's header. Showing his intelligence, Rashford tees up Ander Herrera for a deflected shot that beats Cech in front of the Stretford End. Two goals and an assist - not bad for a Premier League debut.

15:43 A standing ovation as he comes off for Adnan Januzaj with 10 minutes left and the Theatre of Dreams salutes a new hero. Four goals in the opening two games of a United career can only be matched by Jack Rowley, way back in 1937.

16:22 "It is unbelievable," says van Gaal. "I can understand Thursday but the second time is always more difficult. It's about quality and he showed it." The fans make Marcus the Man of the Match on our official Twitter account, @ManUtd, with a huge 82 per cent of the votes.

Wednesday 2 March

19:00 Rashford retains his place in the starting XI against Watford, despite the return of Martial. The Frenchman is played on the right flank with the Academy product handed the responsibility of leading the line against the Hornets.

21:20 United are struggling to make any headway against spirited opponents but van Gaal decides on a tactical switch, with Rashford moving wide and Martial operating down the middle. Rashford uses the opportunity to display his speed on a number of occasions and it has a galvanising effect on the crowd and team. With seven minutes left, Mata's free-kick finally breaks the deadlock.

21:51 Van Gaal's men clinch the three points and, with Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Manchester City all losing on the night, fresh life is breathed into the league campaign and the race for a top-four spot. Rashford completes 90 minutes and, despite not getting on the scoresheet, has proved he can also be an option for the right-wing role.

Thursday 3 March

12:00 Marcus is named our official Player of the Month for his efforts in February, beating off competition from Memphis and Lingard to scoop the award.

22:00 England coach Roy Hodgson claims the striker has been on his radar after appearing at youth level for his country and refuses to rule him out of a shock late inclusion in the Euro 2016 squad this summer. Van Gaal reacted to this comment on Friday: "You are putting the question but saying that Roy Hodgson is saying something. However, it is never too early. As I have said before: age is not important. Maybe you remember me saying this? Age is not important, it is quality."

It has been some seven days for Marcus Rashford, the local lad who has broken records and exceeded all expectation. We look forward to watching him develop his game further at Old Trafford and continuing to make his mark with the Reds.

http://www.manutd.com/

[Andi Istiabudi]

Semoga nasib Rashford di United lebih baik dibanding Macheda..

Federico Macheda Beri Nasihat untuk Rashford

Mantan pemain Manchester United, Federico Macheda, memberikan sedikit nasihat kepada bintang baru The Red Devils, Marcus Rashford. Macheda berharap Rashford tidak cepat besar kepala dan menjadi pemain yang sombong.

Marcus Rashford mencuri perhatian seluruh insan sepak bola di dunia berkat performa cemerlang yang ia perlihatkan di dua laga terakhir The Red Devils. Pemain berkebangsaan Inggris itu sukses mengemas empat gol dalam waktu kurang dari satu minggu.

Melihat reaksi berlebihan dari para penggemar yang kagum dengan performa Rasford, Federico Macheda yang juga sempat merasakan beradi di posisi Rashford mencoba memberikan nasihat kepada juniornya itu untuk tidak cepat besar kepala dan merasa puas.

"Marcus harus terus berusah lebih keras lagi, ia tidak boleh cepat merasa puas dan besar kepala. Saya harap ia tidak mendengarkan apa yang diberitakan oleh media dan hanya fokus dengan permainannya saja saat ini," kata Macheda seperti dikutip dari Daily Star.

"Ia mendapat kesempatan bermain yang lebih banyak dari saya dulu, jadi ia harunya tidak perlu khawatir akan kembali kehilangan tempatnya di skuad utama Man. United. Saat ini lebih baik ia tetap tenang dan terus merasa lapar akan gol jika memang ingin menjadi pemain kunci The Red Devils."

Beberapa tahun silam, Federico Macheda juga sempat mengalami keadaan sama persis seperti Marcus Rashford. Ia juga langsung menceta gol di debut perdananya pada April 2009 lalu. Digadang-gadang akan menjadi pemain bintang Man. United saat itu, kini Macheda justru hanya bermain di divisi Championsip bersama Cardiff City.

http://www.sportsatu.com/

[alfiandrmwn]

Macheda Ingatkan Rashford Agar Tak Senasib dengan Dirinya

Federico Macheda mengingatkan pada Marcus Rashford agar tetap bekerja keras, tidak mengindahkan segala pujian terkait debutnya yang apik bersama Manchester United. Jika tidak demikian, Macheda khawatir nasibnya akan sama dengan dirinya.

Macheda merupakan pemain yang pernah berseragam MU dan menjadi pemain termuda dalam mencetak gol debut bersama tim senior The Red Devils pada tahun 2009. Namun ia gagal menjadi pemain reguler dan harus hengkang setelah lima tahun di Old Trafford.

Rashford adalah pemain 18 tahun yang akhir-akhir ini menyita mata karena mencetak dua gol ketika diturunkan saat lawan Arsenal. Sebelum itu, ia juga mencetak dua gol saat menghadapi Midtjylland. Pada bulan Februari kemarin, ia dinobatkan sebagai pemain terbaik MU pilihan fans.

“Marcus harus tetap bekerja keras, tidak mendongakkan kepalanya, jangan membaca atau mendengar semua pujian kepadanya,” kata Macheda pada The Sun.

“Anak ini pantas mendapat lebih banyak kesempatan daripada saya. Jadi ia harus tetap kalem dan lapar seperti sekarang. United akan merawatnya. Jadi segalanya tergantung pada dirinya,” papar pemain asal Italia tersebut.

[zudomiriku]

England call-up for 18 year-old Marcus Rashford would be 'too soon', says Manchester United legend Nicky Butt

* Manchester United's Marcus Rashford burst on to the scene in February
* The 18 year-old scored four goals in his first two games
* Roy Hodgson hasn't ruled out including him in England's Euro 2016 squad
* Nicky Butt, the head of Manchester United's academy, think it is 'too soon'

Nicky Butt believes it is 'well too soon' for Marcus Rashford to get an England call-up, with Manchester United's head of academy concerned it could hinder the teenager's progress.

Over recent weeks the 18-year-old forward has gone from unknown to a Stretford End favourite, following his surprise debut brace against Midtjylland with another double just days later as Arsenal were overcome.

Rashford's remarkable emergence saw Roy Hodgson quizzed about the player's Euro 2016 chances, and the England boss refused to rule him in or out of selection.



Nicky Butt believes an England call-up could do Rashford 'more damage than good'

United boss Louis van Gaal underlined his belief that quality is more important than experience when Hodgson's comments were put to him, but former England midfielder Butt, who was recently appointed United's head of academy, believes it would be too much, too soon.

'No, I think that's well too soon for Marcus,' he told the BBC.

'I think that could backfire on everybody, really, and might not be the right thing for him.

'I wouldn't tell an England manager what to do - it's his job to pick whoever he thinks.

'But for me he is a young boy who is still learning the game, he has got a long way to go yet, so I think talk of England is well too soon for Marcus.

'He has phenomenal potential for England and for Man United, and I think (it is) too soon - it might do more damage than good.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3491709/England-call-18-year-old-Marcus-Rashford-soon-says-Nicky-Butt.html

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Lingard: Rashford's pace was key against City

Jesse Lingard has admitted Marcus Rashford was “buzzing” after scoring the winner in the Manchester derby - and revealed that utilising the striker’s pace against City had been a key part of United's game plan.

The Blues started with Martin Demichelis and Eliaquim Mangala at centre-back in the absence of injured first-choice duo Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi, a selection which seemed to encourage the Reds - never more so than when Rashford rounded Demichelis on 16 minutes to coolly dispatch a decisive finish past Joe Hart.

Sunday’s match at the Etihad Stadium enabled Lingard and Rashford to start in a Manchester derby for the first time and it was a positive day for both. “Yeah it was good,” Jesse told ManUtd.com. “I came on earlier in the season against them [at Old Trafford] and they are a difficult side to play against because they keep the ball very well. But we exploited their weaknesses and we came away with the goal.”

Asked if it was United’s plan to specifically target Demichelis, Lingard was reluctant to pinpoint his Argentinian opponent but conceded Rashford’s pace was always going to cause problems for the Blues. “Not necessarily,” he said, “but obviously we knew that was one of their weaknesses, with Marcus’s pace running in behind and he got his reward for it as well.

“He is buzzing but I was keeping him grounded! He is already grounded anyway to be fair; he is always grounded and has his feet on the ground. He’s looking forward to the rest of his career now.”

Speaking of being grounded, Lingard also admitted he was quick to intervene when Rashford was involved in a scuffle with two City players following a first-half penalty appeal. “Yeah, I had to back him up didn’t I and look after the young lads! [Laughs] But I thought it was a penalty as well.”

United are now just one point behind fourth-placed City in the Barclays Premier League with eight games left to play and, like Rashford, Lingard admitted his manager Louis van Gaal was “buzzing” after the match. But he was also quick to point out that Sunday’s win will mean little if the Reds cannot keep winning.

“Yeah it is a massive win,” Jesse told ManUtd.com at the Etihad Stadium. “The lads put a lot of effort in, we pressed really well and kept the ball really well. To get the early goal was massive for us.

“The manager was buzzing. But obviously we know it is not like it is the last game of the season, we have to kick on now and focus on beating Everton. This is a major boost but we have got to take it game by game still. We have game plans for set teams and when we stick to them we usually win.”

http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2016/Mar/Jesse-Lingard-says-Marcus-Rashford-Louis-van-Gaal-buzzing-Manchester-City-0-1-Manchester-United.aspx

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BECKS PRAISES RASHFORD ON INSTAGRAM

Marcus Rashford has been the toast of every United fan since netting the winner in Sunday’s Manchester derby and David Beckham has joined the list of Reds praising the 18-year-old.

Beckham is of course a fellow graduate of the Academy after famously ascending the youth ranks with Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Gary Neville as part of the now iconic Class of ’92. As such, the Treble winner knows exactly how Rashford feels to play for his boyhood club, United.

With that in mind, Becks was an interested observer on Sunday when the young striker scored his biggest goal in the biggest game of his fledgling career, jinking around Martin Demichelis to dispatch a cool finish past Joe Hart at the Etihad Stadium before celebrating with an expression of sheer delight.

Taking to Instagram on Monday evening, our former no.7 posted an image of Rashford with the caption: “When a young kid loves the club he is at and loves the game he is playing, this is what you get. https://www.instagram.com/p/BDOdpeqTWaf/

"The excitement in Marcus's face after scoring against our rivals is exactly what a kid his age should look like. It's refreshing to see. Congrats to Marcus on another great day for @ManchesterUnited.”

http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2016/Mar/David-Beckham-praises-Marcus-Rashford-after-Manchester-derby-winner.aspx

[penk22_]

SMALLING : DEFENDERS FEAR MARCUS RASHFORD

Chris Smalling has offered a defender's perspective on Marcus Rashford's match-winning display against Manchester City, admitting he wouldn't want to mark the young Manchester United striker.

Rashford's 16th-minute strike ultimately settled the derby clash at the Etihad Stadium, as the forward raced past Blues defender Martin Demichelis and into the area to finish past Joe Hart.

City manager Manuel Pellegrini later described Demichelis as being "nervous", after the experienced centre-back was replaced just eight minutes into the second half, and Smalling says Rashford's style makes life difficult for defenders.

Smalling told MUTV: “You can see he’s always on the [defender's] shoulder and I think if I was up against him, he’s one who would certainly put fear in you! He’s done it in the previous games as well, so it’s great for him and great for us.

“It's so refreshing to see a young kid who wants to run and keep running. You could see he cramped up [at the end of the game] but that didn’t stop him – he was the man to step up."

Though it was Rashford's goal which separated the sides, Smalling was named Man of the Match for repelling the likes of Sergio Aguero and David Silva. His solid defensive display against City is something Roy Hodgson will hope for, after including the centre-back as the sole United representative in his squad for England's forthcoming friendlies with Germany and Netherlands.

"If we wanted to catch the clubs above us we had to beat them to have any chance [of finishing in the top four]," reflected Smalling on Sunday.

"We go into an international break now, and then we’ll go again, at home against Everton.”

http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2016/Mar/Chris-Smalling-praises-Marcus-Rashford-for-his-performance-against-Manchester-City.aspx