Marcus Rashford has tended to be the man Manchester United have turned to in every situation this season. Scoring the goals after Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure and powering their revival under Erik ten Hag, however, may have appeared easier tasks than providing an explanation for the capitulation. Rashford was summoned to discuss United’s heaviest defeat for 91 years, the 7-0 hammering by Liverpool. He has shown an eloquence in front of goal this season. Now for the cameras and the microphones.
He did not attempt a case for the defence, other than to insist it was no surrender, that United cared and tried even amid a shambles. Rashford is a Ten Hag disciple – perhaps the most prominent, with the exception of his Ajax alumni – and he borrowed from his manager’s language and thinking. The problem, he felt, was that United forgot Ten Hag’s principles, his rules, his rationale. He sees the meeting with Real Betis on Thursday as the chance for a reset after a six-goal second half at Anfield saw them forget their improvements over the last six months.
