Marcus Rashford has opened up on the outrageous trick that started the move for his goal against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final.
The attacker is in red-hot form and scored five minutes before half-time to seal the win for Manchester United on Sunday as they lifted their first trophy for six years. As well as finishing off the move, thanks in part to a deflection from Sven Botman, Rashford was key in creating the chance.
As a long ball was sent forward, Rashford jumped into the air to control, with his left leg raised higher than his right. As the ball came past him, the Englishman flicked it with his left heel onto his right heel and into the path of Wout Weghorst, a remarkable piece of inventiveness from a player on top of his game.
Newcastle defender and England teammate Kieran Trippier could do absolutely nothing to stop Rashford's piece of skill, despite being reasonably well positioned. Weghorst then carried the ball forwards towards the edge of the box before slipping in Rashford, who had run ahead of him.
The Englishman took a touch before firing a shot towards goal, which hit Botman and looped over Magpies keeper Loris Karius into the net. Rashford quote-tweeted a video of the move and said: "It was a heel-to-heel flick but in the air."
United would go on to hold onto their 2-0 lead and finally lift a major trophy. And Rashford paid tribute to team-mate Casemiro, who was named man of the match for his performance at Wembley.
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“He makes a huge difference, his leadership and experience in games is huge. I've spoken to some of the other forwards and on the pitch they feel that sense of security behind them," the England international said.
"It's massive for us and I'm buzzing for him today, his first trophy for the club and hopefully he can push us now to get even more. It's massive for us to be involved in these types of games, something that we've missed as a club.
"The fact that we've come all this way and we've gone on and won is a massive feeling but hopefully it pushes us now to keep going.
"I'm happy right now so it doesn't matter! I'm buzzing with the result, the boys and the staff have put a lot of work in to get here and to go on and win it is just a massive feeling.”
The goal was originally put down as an own-goal by Botman, but was eventually awarded to Rashford. And it means that he has now surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo's goals total from last season, with three months left of the current campaign.
The Red Devils' attention now turns to the FA Cup, with West Ham visiting Old Trafford in the fifth round of that competition on Wednesday. They have also progressed to the Last 16 of the Europa League after defeating Barcelona last week.
Rashford is expected to play a key role for Erik ten Hag's men over the closing weeks of the season. United are the only team in Europe's top five leagues who have the chance to win four trophies.
