England manager Thomas Tuchel has offered a brutally honest verdict on Marcus Rashford, warning the Manchester United loanee not to “waste his potential” and demanding greater consistency in front of goal.
Rashford burst onto the scene as a teenager at Manchester United, quickly earning a reputation as one of football’s most electrifying young players. He enjoyed a stellar 22/23 campaign with 30 goals in all competitions but has since struggled to sustain that level of performance over the past three years.
Tuchel, however, believes the 27-year-old can return to his best, but only if he channels his effort and mentality in the right direction.
After a strained relationship with Ruben Amorim led to his exit from Manchester United, Rashford now seems to be rediscovering his edge on loan at Barcelona, where Tuchel hopes to see signs of a lasting revival.
“You have to reach your personal best on a regular basis,” the England boss said about the Man United academy graduate.
“It’s not a question of talent, it’s a question of whether he can prove the point at club and international level. Whether he starts for us or comes off the bench he has to constantly prove himself.
“He can be one of the best in the world. The quality I see in training, the finishing with both legs and with the head. He is explosive, he is fast, he is strong in the air so where are the limits?
“There are no limits, but the numbers don’t reach the potential. He needs to push himself into goal involvements. That means goals and assists. He knows that from me.
“For the work-rate against the ball I selected him and still he had not as many goals and not as many goal involvements as he could have. He creates quite a lot of chances, but for the quality and finishing that we see with training, he just doesn’t score enough. That’s the next step.”
Olaoluwa is a dedicated sports writer and passionate football enthusiast with two years of experience. Known for his keen analysis and commitment to the game, his work reflects a deep love for football, blending strategic insight with the emotional moments that make it a global passion. He is focused on honing his skills and consistently aims to inspire and engage readers through every article he writes.
