Marcus Rashford has suggested that it might take a tactical change from Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag for him to continue his scoring run.
United academy graduate scored his 100th goal for the club on Sunday evening in the win over West Ham as he dispatched Christian Eriksen’s superb cross with an emphatic header.
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The goal represented Rashford’s seventh of the season in all competitions – an impressive return considering that he only got on the scoresheet on five separate occasions last campaign.
While the 25-year-old’s latest milestone is an impressive one, Rashford himself has shown no indications of standing still and has set out his ambitions to score even more.
In order to do that, the England forward has requested even more creativity from his teammates – particularly in the air.
Speaking after win over West Ham to Sky Sports, Rashford said: “Everyone in the midfield today [against West Ham] they can cross the ball. It’s something you’re almost itching for, on this occasion it was just one but sometimes there’s two or three in the box.
“That’s the biggest thing, I have to be more aggressive especially when it’s hanging like that, I’ve got a run on the defender. If I jump before him he’s not going to beat me in the air.”
While Rashford has requested more crosses to be put into the box, that would take a change in tactics for the Red Devils manager Ten Hag.
Ever since the Dutchman arrived at the club from Ajax, United have chalked up some of the lowest crossing numbers in the entire Premier League.
Only Crystal Palace have attempted fewer than United’s 154 crosses this season with 145. And, crosses into the box does not mean more attacking threat – one example of that being Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have attempted 291 crosses in the Premier League this campaign, scoring fewer than all of the current top four, while they are ninth in the standings after a poor start to the season with just four wins from 12 games.
It remains to be seen whether Ten Hag compromises on the playing style he is attempting to adopt at the Theatre of Dreams in order to get more productivity out of Rashford.