Gordon Strachan believes Manchester United need Rashford and the rest of the attack to take some of the pressure off Bruno Fernandes.
The former United midfielder feels Bruno Fernandes has carried too much of the attacking responsibility for too long. That needs to change if Carrick’s side are going to move forward.
Bruno Fernandes needs help from elsewhere
Bruno Fernandes produced another huge season last term, finishing with a Premier League-record 21 assists. He was also recently voted the PFA Players’ Player of the Year.
Strachan thinks that level of dependence on one player has become a problem.
“I think Bruno Fernandes would get up in the morning and go to the game and think, ‘I hope somebody else scores more goals and makes goals rather than me because it’s me all the time’,” Strachan said.
His message to Marcus Rashford and the other attacking players is simple.
“And that’s where Marcus Rashford and people like that have to say, ‘right, we’ve let this guy do everything, I want to do something now’.”
Strachan isn’t convinced Rashford currently has that same hunger he once showed, though he admits he could be wrong.
“I don’t know if those days are beyond him, of ‘I want to be the best player on the pitch and I want to do this’ and there’s a kind of vibe from him. I don’t know if that vibe’s there anymore.”
“I hope I’m wrong. I hope the guy does really well because he seems like a decent fella.”
Fernandes’ importance to United was underlined again in the recent 5-2 victory over Ipswich, when he scored a hat-trick.
Gary Neville‘s verdict was just as emphatic. He added: “This is one of the great Manchester United signings and one of the great Manchester United players.”
