Graeme Souness has told Marcus Rashford he needs to get a move on if he’s to ever become the footballer “most people believe he can be”.
The England international led the Manchester United attack at the expense of Cristiano Ronaldo during their dismal derby thrashing by Manchester City on Sunday. But Rashford, Premier League Player of the Month for September after two goals and two assists in United’s two wins during the month, endured a miserable afternoon, proving more of a hindrance than a help as United looked to build attacks and was replaced by Erik ten Hag before the hour mark.
His replacement, Anthony Martial scored twice in the 6-3 reverse for the Red Devils, while Ronaldo remained a frustrated onlooker.
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Indeed, former Liverpool captain Souness was far from impressed with Rashford’s display. He believes the 24-year-old, who scored just five times in 32 games for United last season in all competitions - but has bagged three in seven so far this term - is failing to fulfil the potential he showcased when he broke into the United team as a 17-year-old.
“Time is not your friend in football, you have to be winning games today,” said Souness, speaking on talkSPORT. “It's not about waiting for Marcus Rashford to become the player that most people believe he can be.
"It's not about giving Martial, because of his age, a place in the team over Ronaldo. It's about today in football. Yeah, I would have [played] Ronaldo.
“Marcus Rashford, when he first burst into the team as a young player you thought ‘he's the real deal’. He's stood still.
“If you were to ask me today, next week, big game - for all his shortcomings, Ronaldo, I would have played him in front of Rashford.”
Asked after the loss to City why he had kept an exasperated-looking Ronaldo on the bench throughout, United boss Ten Hag claimed it was “out of respect for his big career”.
That’s something which ex-United captain Roy Keane does not agree with.
“I think Man United are showing disrespect to Ronaldo,” said the Irishman. I think he should have been let go before the [closing] of the window.
“Okay, you're the manager, you need options but you don't hold onto Ronaldo to sit on the bench. He's one of the greatest players ever.
“He's played him in one or two European games. It's just going to get uglier as the season goes on. If he's sitting on the bench for United, week in, week out it's just going to get uglier. I think United have shown nothing but disrespect to Ronaldo.”
