How Rashford becomes the poster boy of Man Utd's turnaround under Solskjaer.
One minute and 57 seconds. It sounds short, but that was the time between Slovenian referee Damir Skomina pointing to the spot and Marcus Rashford taking his penalty at the Parc des Princes.
In that time, Rashford had Paris Saint-Germain players arguing around him, Juan Bernat trying to put him off and the knowledge that this one kick would decide Manchester United's Champions League fate.
The 21-year-old was up against a goalkeeping legend in Gianluigi Buffon, too. Did Rashford care? Not one bit. He fired the ball in the back of the net and United into the quarter-finals.
To think that was Rashford's first-ever penalty for the club makes it all the more extraordinary. The confidence was there for all to see, as if it was never in doubt that he would duly beat Buffon.
The England international with ice in his veins has become the poster boy of United's mid-season U-turn.
In December, then-manager Jose Mourinho said it would take a 'miracle' to finish in the Premier League's top four this season. Then Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said, 'Hold my beer'.
Their win percentage has gone from 41.2 per cent to 83.3, while they are shooting more and facing fewer shots against them.
Under Solskjaer, they are unbeaten in 12 league games and chasing a seventh consecutive away win, a feat last achieved in 1993.
As a result, United travel to Arsenal on Sunday sitting fourth and very much in the fight. They also remain in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and, against all odds, the Champions League.
Like United, Rashford's statistics this season, split by Mourinho then Solskjaer, show his own turnaround.
His goals per 90 have gone from 0.32 to 0.62. His shots from 1.91 to 4.47, and on target from 1.16 and 2.08. His shots from inside the area have tripled and his dribble success rate has risen, too.
On Friday, Solskjaer challenged the youngster at his pre-match press conference to go on to break the club's all-time goalscoring record – currently held by Wayne Rooney on 253. He is currently on 43 goals in 159 games.
The Norwegian also told him to learn from Romelu Lukaku by becoming more of a penalty-box poacher.
'I keep battering him with it that he should also score as many goals as Rom,' Solskjaer said. 'He should always get those simple tap-ins, finishes – like Rom's scored in the last few games.'
While sat on the substitutes' bench as a player, Solskjaer would study opposing defenders. During the week, he would study finishing. He has tasked Rashford with doing the same when it comes to scoring from inside six yards.
So far, Solskjaer has had a remarkable effect on the England striker. On Wednesday night, Rashford had a hand in all three goals against PSG.
It was him putting pressure on Thilo Kehrer that led to Lukaku pinching the PSG defender's blind back-pass to score after two minutes.
His shot then proved too hot to handle for Buffon and Lukaku pounced on the rebound for 2-1. His spot-kick, scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time, then completed the 3-1 scoreline.
One image from United's 1999 treble-winning season which will never be forgotten is that of Solskjaer, celebrating on his knees at the Nou Camp with arms in the air.
The pictures of Rashford, with his team-mates at the Parc des Princes, felt iconic in the next day's newspapers, too.
Rashford made his Premier League debut against Arsenal three years ago, scoring twice as United won 3-2. He heads to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday as one half of an effective front two and a rejuvenated striker.
United went to Paris in midweek without Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard, Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic but they had enough.
Now, they will turn their attention back to focusing on securing a spot in Europe's elite competition next season via the Premier League.
Mourinho branded a top-four finish a 'miracle' but under Solskjaer, with the never-say-die philosophy he has instilled at United, anything seems possible.
In that time, Rashford had Paris Saint-Germain players arguing around him, Juan Bernat trying to put him off and the knowledge that this one kick would decide Manchester United's Champions League fate.
The 21-year-old was up against a goalkeeping legend in Gianluigi Buffon, too. Did Rashford care? Not one bit. He fired the ball in the back of the net and United into the quarter-finals.
To think that was Rashford's first-ever penalty for the club makes it all the more extraordinary. The confidence was there for all to see, as if it was never in doubt that he would duly beat Buffon.
The England international with ice in his veins has become the poster boy of United's mid-season U-turn.
In December, then-manager Jose Mourinho said it would take a 'miracle' to finish in the Premier League's top four this season. Then Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said, 'Hold my beer'.
Their win percentage has gone from 41.2 per cent to 83.3, while they are shooting more and facing fewer shots against them.
Under Solskjaer, they are unbeaten in 12 league games and chasing a seventh consecutive away win, a feat last achieved in 1993.
As a result, United travel to Arsenal on Sunday sitting fourth and very much in the fight. They also remain in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and, against all odds, the Champions League.
Like United, Rashford's statistics this season, split by Mourinho then Solskjaer, show his own turnaround.
His goals per 90 have gone from 0.32 to 0.62. His shots from 1.91 to 4.47, and on target from 1.16 and 2.08. His shots from inside the area have tripled and his dribble success rate has risen, too.
On Friday, Solskjaer challenged the youngster at his pre-match press conference to go on to break the club's all-time goalscoring record – currently held by Wayne Rooney on 253. He is currently on 43 goals in 159 games.
The Norwegian also told him to learn from Romelu Lukaku by becoming more of a penalty-box poacher.
'I keep battering him with it that he should also score as many goals as Rom,' Solskjaer said. 'He should always get those simple tap-ins, finishes – like Rom's scored in the last few games.'
While sat on the substitutes' bench as a player, Solskjaer would study opposing defenders. During the week, he would study finishing. He has tasked Rashford with doing the same when it comes to scoring from inside six yards.
So far, Solskjaer has had a remarkable effect on the England striker. On Wednesday night, Rashford had a hand in all three goals against PSG.
It was him putting pressure on Thilo Kehrer that led to Lukaku pinching the PSG defender's blind back-pass to score after two minutes.
His shot then proved too hot to handle for Buffon and Lukaku pounced on the rebound for 2-1. His spot-kick, scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time, then completed the 3-1 scoreline.
One image from United's 1999 treble-winning season which will never be forgotten is that of Solskjaer, celebrating on his knees at the Nou Camp with arms in the air.
The pictures of Rashford, with his team-mates at the Parc des Princes, felt iconic in the next day's newspapers, too.
Rashford made his Premier League debut against Arsenal three years ago, scoring twice as United won 3-2. He heads to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday as one half of an effective front two and a rejuvenated striker.
United went to Paris in midweek without Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard, Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic but they had enough.
Now, they will turn their attention back to focusing on securing a spot in Europe's elite competition next season via the Premier League.
Mourinho branded a top-four finish a 'miracle' but under Solskjaer, with the never-say-die philosophy he has instilled at United, anything seems possible.
No comments:
Post a Comment