Erik Ten Hag has backed Marcus Rashford to break the 20-goal barrier for Manchester United this season.
Rashford put his World Cup heartache with England behind him last week, scoring a superb solo goal in United's 2-0 EFL Cup win over Burnley at Old Trafford. That came on the back of Rashford's three goals for England in Qatar, with the forward back to his best after suffering a crisis of confidence last season.
Rashford scored just five goals in total last season but has nine to his name this term, with United boss Ten Hag confident he can hit 20-plus for the third time in his career. “I don’t want to pin myself to a number,” said Ten Hag. “But I think he is capable of scoring 20 goals in the Premier League.
“He got three at the World Cup, so we know the potential to score those numbers in the Premier League.”
Rashford is United's top scorer this season, but United, currently fifth in the table, have struggled for goals, with Ten Hag's side having managed just 20 in the Premier League. Of the top 10 in the Premier League, only Chelsea have scored fewer, with Ten Hag acknowledging United need to improve their goal return if they are to continue to push for a top-four place.
“I see it this way – it’s a good sign we're still fifth,” said Ten Hag. “We're aware we need to score more goals and that we need to improve on many more elements.
“We created so many opportunities against Burnley and we have to be more decisive. But I was really happy with the performance, to create seven or eight good chances, but it’s clear we have to score more.
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“When you analyse the first 14 games or however many, we do not have a problem in the front line. Often players have not been 100 per cent fit and I've had to play them.
“That was probably in the first few games, but when we get players fit and available in the front line, then we will score more goals.”
Cristiano Ronaldo's acrimonious exit means United are a striker down, with Ten Hag acknowledging the need to add another forward – but only if the right player is available.
United, who host Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, are pushing to sign Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven next month, with the Dutch club wanting £50million for the 23-year-old, who scored three times for Holland at the World Cup.
“We are aware we have lost a striker, so we need to get one in,” said Ten Hag. "But it has to be the right one, who brings quality into the team, not just a case of adding to the squad, and you know the criteria is high here at Manchester United.”
Asked to grade his own performance in the first half of his debut season at United, Ten Hag said: “Im happy I don’t have to do that. I give the best every day I have.
“I want to see a better version of myself every day. That’s what I focus on internally. I'm confident we'll get the process right and it will come.
“For me, you can always do better. When you are satisfied, it brings you to laziness and I don’t want that. We have to do better – that also counts for the manager.”
