Erik Ten Hag has explained how the club's staff is helping Marcus Rashford get better behind the scenes as the 25-year-old has continued his red-hot goalscoring form this campaign.
The England international got on the scoresheet again against Real Betis on Thursday night, as his lone goal in the second leg of the Europa League round of 16 in Seville sealed Manchester United's spot in the quarterfinals of the competition.
His powerful rocket, which found the far bottom of the Real Betis net, was his 28th of the season and 6th in the Europa League, which makes it his best goalscoring season since breaking into Manchester United's senior team from the club's academy.
Reports from the Carrington training center suggest that Benni McCarthy, who was recruited as a staff member at Old Trafford upon Erik Ten Hag's appointment as manager, is the reason behind the striker's new-found form after witnessing his worst season in a Manchester United shirt during the last campaign, where he managed just 5 goals despite playing over 40 matches.
Erik Ten Hag has acknowledged that Benni McCarthy is playing a major role in getting Marcus Rashford to be better in terms of scoring goals; however, he insisted it wasn't down to the South African's efforts alone, claiming it's all team work.
“I think the most important thing, of course, is the way of playing that gives him the base, gives him structure, and gives the team structure," Erik Ten Hag stated during his press conference on Friday afternoon.
"The way of play is in his favor because I knew his skills." Then you also bring staff around who can make him better, who can make him progress, or whom he gets motivation from. I thought we needed one on the staff who was specific and responsible for strikers, and Benni’s doing a good job. But don’t forget the others because it’s about teamwork, and I think the staff is in good balance.
"We do it together, and it’s not only about Benni McCarthy." It’s about all having specific jobs in our staff, and we cooperate really well together, there’s a good vibe, and they also challenge each other. Therefore, it’s a total package that I want to report here. "It's not about one person," Erik Ten Hag explained.
Marcus Rashford's form in front of goal this season has earned him a place amongst the elite forwards across Europe, and when Erik Ten Hag was asked how the 25-year-old was able to get the mentality, the 53-year-old proudly replied.
"He progressed during the season." "He was also not in the best shape when he started the season, but then I think the way he plays gives him the base and then he brings the skills in."
"Then he brings his attitude and mentality, and you see that is bringing him a lot of progress." That gives the team a lot of joy, and it gives Marcus a lot of goals and us a lot of wins.
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