England striker Marcus Rashford appears to have subtly taken aim at Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim after scoring his first goal for Aston Villa in their 3-0 FA Cup quarter-final victory over Preston.
Rashford, who was loaned out by United last month following a fall-out with Amorim, has since established himself as a key player for Villa, who have the option to make his move permanent at the end of the season.
The 27-year-old forward scored twice, including a penalty, to help Villa secure a spot in the FA Cup semi-finals. Following the match, Rashford spoke about how he feels fitter and more confident on the pitch since his move to Villa.
In an interview with BBC Sport, Rashford said, “It’s a great feeling. I feel like I’ve been getting fitter and playing better football since I’ve been here. It’s obviously nice for a forward to score, so hopefully, that continues.”
He added, “We just have to take it one game at a time, give it 100% on the pitch, and see where it takes us. We’re an ambitious team—we want to win and push for a top-four finish in all competitions.”
“I think I can still get fitter. I missed a lot of football before joining here. Right now, my body feels good, I’m injury-free, and I’m enjoying my football, so everything’s good for now.”
Former footballer Micah Richards believes that Rashford is a better fit at Villa than he was at United, where he struggled to adapt to Amorim’s tactics.
Amorim had previously expressed concerns about Rashford’s commitment to training, but Richards feels the forward is thriving under Villa manager Unai Emery.
Richards explained, “The difference is that Emery has a clear structure and plan, whereas under Ten Hag, it was tough. Amorim has also struggled to communicate exactly what he wants. If you’re playing a different formation, where does Rashford fit in? Is he going to be one of the front three, or maybe a wing-back? It just doesn’t suit him.”
“At Villa, he’s entered an environment where everyone knows their roles. He’s just adding his skill, pace, and intelligence to the team.”