Rio Ferdinand has told Marcus Rashford what to expect for the rest of his career after putting his head above the parapet for good causes.
The England international has done a stream of great work off the pitch in recent years, including a free school meals initiative. However, on the field, he has endured a tough season for Manchester United and looks to be struggling with confidence.
Rashford was handed only his second league start since nearly two months when Ralf Rangnick selected him for the trip to Everton on Saturday. Speaking on BT Sport about the striker before the game, Ferdinand admitted he had been concerned about the 24-year-old.
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“He’s left me worried and I’m asking a lot of questions about what is going on behind the scenes,” he said. “Slumped shoulders, not as confident.
“I think it stems from the uncertainty of the football club. The uncertainty with the manager and his contract.
“When he’s played, he’s been out of position and not played as much as he wants under this manager. All those things mean you can understand why he’s like that, but as a player with experience, sometimes you need to put on a show for people that might not reflect how you feel at that time.
“His talent is there, but it’s about getting back to the levels we know he can reach and moving above those.”
Ferdinand touched on the fact that being a “local boy”, Rashford is determined to see United do well. But the former Old Trafford defender questioned whether he was ready for the national attention he is now getting, explaining how it is something he will likely have for the rest of his playing days.
Ferdinand continued: “What comes with great work and the amount of spotlight he’s been under, is more pressure. It’s a bigger spotlight, the responsibility that falls on your shoulders and for a young lad, it’s hard to accept that responsibility.
Did he anticipate that? Probably not, because things were going so well at the time. Like it or not, that’s what comes with this type of situation.
“When you stand for good and make people in higher positions that yourself look silly by making change and impact on people, you get held to a different level. He’ll have to deal with that for the rest of his career.”
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