For Manchester United, it was another day during which his problems were exposed. For Marcus Rashford, it was the opposite pole.
Rashford, who joined United at the age of seven and for so long was an instrumental player for the club, found himself frozen under the new Ruben Amorim manager.
Then he was lent to Aston Villa, and on Saturday, he shone.
The energetic and determined exhibition of the 27-year-old after being carried as a part-time substitute against Chelsea saw him help both goals when Villa arrived from behind to win 2-1.
United, meanwhile, drew 2-2 with Everton to stay 15 on the table.
On Wednesday, Rashford made his first beginning in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool and on Saturday night he had an exceptional half outside the bank.
According to teammate Youri Tielemans, he is someone who “will only improve” as he returns to play regular minutes.
“[I am] Very satisfied, especially the way he is acting now and with the two assists today, “Tielemans told Sky Sports.
“Marcus is someone who can threaten everyone versus one and even one against two. It is very important for us in the way he plays because he gives us something different on the left side.”
With Marco Asensio scoring both goals, Rashford helped the same player twice in a Premier League game for the first time since June 2020. “Every time he received the ball it was dangerous,” Tielemans added.
Although he fell out of love under Amorim, Rashford is beginning to find his feet again under Unai Emery.
He is currently on a loan in Villa until the end of the season, having joined in February after not presenting for United since he expressed his desire for a “new challenge” in December.
Villa has the option of making the Rashford agreement permanent for £ 40 million.
