Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has praised Marcus Rashford as he continued his stunning form in their win at Nottingham Forest.
Rashford kicked off United’s 3-0 victory over Forest in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final with a superb solo strike in the sixth minute.
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Rashford scored a magnificent opener at the City Ground
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He continued his fine form in front of goal
The England international snuck in from the halfway line past Joe Worrall and Remo Freuler before scoring with a left foot past Wayne Hennessey to score his tenth goal in ten appearances.
After the game, Ten Hag gushed about the 25-year-old, telling Sky Sports: “In this mood and with this spirit, he’s unstoppable.”
Speaking to talkSPORT, Ten Hag added: “He infests and the team infests. I think we are improving and our attacking game is also improving. More and more are being created, especially for attacking players.
“I’m really happy they’re creating more, but that’s because the team is playing better. We’ve controlled the game, there’s more movement and that’s why we can bring people like Marcus Rashford into matches. positions where they can score.
Speaking to the Sky Sports studio, United legend Keane admitted he had been pleasantly surprised by Rashford’s recent form and hailed his transformation into a fit and hungry striker.
Keane said: “The question mark I’ve had over Marcus over the last few years is, does he have that personality to take over? Well now it looks like he did.
Rashford has been in fine form this season
“We were pitchside when the players came out and he looked skinny. You wouldn’t want to be against him. He looks like a lean fighting machine.
“United have had great strikers over the years, and I think they need someone like that. Marcus has to say he wants that responsibility to be the main man.
Wout Weghorst scored the first United goal of his career just before half-time while Bruno Fernandes scored late to end the cup before the second leg in a comprehensive victory for the Red Devils.
But Ten Hag still identified some issues and warned his players that the encounter was not yet over, urging them to eliminate complacency when they meet Forest next week at Old Trafford.
The Dutchman added: “We almost let them into the game and we can’t allow an opponent to come back into the game when we started so well.
“We totally dictated it and then in an instant it can change. We have to avoid that.
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Ten Hag wasn’t completely happy with the win
“I think in the second half we were a lot calmer and we went with them. It was much better. »
There was a moment of concern when Rashford appeared to have taken a knock and walked off, but Ten Hag insisted the replacement was due with a Europa League draw against Barcelona in February.
The striker has now netted 18 times in all competitions this season, a huge improvement on last year when he netted just five in the whole campaign and talkSPORT host Jason Cundy made it praise for Ten Hag and his impact on training.
Cundy said on The Sports Bar: “This season [Rashford has] come back from the World Cup with a point to prove.
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Ten Hag has an air of Rashford, which has had a tough time in recent seasons
“He enjoys the role he has and he has a manager who trusts him and believes him.
“He’s now playing on the left side, Weghorst is in the middle… and you can see they’ve worked with him on that left.
“I think he was mishandled by this club and there were managers and coaches who didn’t get the best out of him.
” Who would have believed it ? Suddenly Ten Hag comes along and you have a brilliant coach getting a brilliant performance from him.
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