‘He’s unstoppable’: Erik ten Hag hails Marcus Rashford after he scored one and assisted two more in Man United’s 3-1 FA Cup win over Everton, with the in-form England star which is well on course to beat his best tally of 22 goals
Erik ten Hag says Marcus Rashford can be ‘unstoppable’ for Manchester United after the England striker scored his fifth goal in as many games and set up two more in a 3-1 FA Cup win against at Everton.
Rashford set up Antony’s fourth-minute opener, then played in a cross that forced Conor Coady into an own goal early in the second half, before making it seven consecutive home games with a goal for United when he scored a penalty in stoppage time.
‘From the first minute I think Marcus is the one who showed confidence and belief,’ Ten Hag said. ‘He takes players on and I think for 90 minutes he is a threat to Everton’s defence.’
Erik ten Hag believes Marcus Rashford is ‘unstoppable’ due to his speed and dribbling skills.
Rashford is now up to 13 goals for the season, to beat his previous best tally of 22, achieved in 2019-20, if he stays fit.
‘In football it’s hard to measure but with a striker you measure goals and assists – now he has two assists and a goal,’ added Ten Hag. ‘He has amazing skills and when he has the mental fortitude he can go on.
‘That requires a lot from us as a team and an organization to make sure we have the right environment and culture. If he keeps focusing on this, he’ll definitely be able to keep it up…
Ten Hag’s side have now won seven games in a row and are next in action against Charlton
‘As a team we have to make sure we create space, playing to his strengths. That’s about Marcus doing well but also the team, getting into shape. I think he’s unstoppable with his speed, his dribbles and his directness.’
United can now look forward to Sunday’s fourth round draw, but perhaps more importantly they have maintained their winning run – now up to seven games before Tuesday’s Carabao Cup fixture against Charlton – while Premier League fixtures against Manchester City and Arsenal are approaching later this month.
‘I think we have a good belief,’ said Ten Hag. ‘We have to keep freshness in so many games. I think with one or two players we will see that the load is high, we have to make sure we get the right balance with load and relaxation for the players.
Rashford now has 13 goals for Man United this season and is on course for his best tally of 22
‘The games keep coming and it’s a good challenge. When we face big games like City and Arsenal, the physical performance has to be at the fore.’
Although relegation-threatened Everton endured an eighth game without a win, under-pressure Frank Lampard was encouraged by the way his players responded as they succumbed to a 4-1 home defeat on Tuesday in Brighton in the Premier League.
‘The performance was at a similar level and possibly better in an attacking sense than Manchester City (last weekend),’ he said. ‘We got a draw at City and I think we deserved a draw today.
The England forward has proven to be a constant thorn in the left side at Old Trafford
‘I was really impressed with the spirit and courage of the team. We didn’t get the result, that’s how football is sometimes. When you have an individual of Rashford’s quality, they have their moments.’
Although Everton’s 9,000 traveling fans often chanted ‘sack the board’, they did not turn on the players or the manager at Old Trafford, and stayed back to applaud their efforts in defeat.
‘I think the reaction at the end of the game speaks for itself,’ said Lampard. ‘They saw the spirit in the team, the way we played and I think they saw that we deserved to get a draw.’
Frank Lampard’s side suffered a sixth defeat in their last seven but the fans did not turn on him
Everton looked shaky early on, but after Coady canceled out Antony’s opener in the 14th minute they fought back well.
But a bad injury look for Alex Iwobi – who left on a stretcher early in the second half – came before United took the lead again.
‘It’s an ankle ligament injury,’ Lampard said. ‘We’re hoping it’s a lesser one but I don’t know its extent. He left on crutches.’
Alex Iwobi was stretchered off shortly after the second half with ankle ligament damage
