Before Erik ten Hag became the manager of Manchester United, Rashford considered leaving the club after struggles with injuries and game time.
He was linked to clubs like Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, and his contract was set to expire in 2024. However after Ten Hag’s arrival, Rashford signed a new five-year contract and had a remarkable 2022-23 season.
He scored 30 goals in all competitions, earned accolades like Player’s Player of the Year and United’s Player of the Year, and helped United qualify for the Champions League and win the League Cup, all while continuing to represent the England national team.
He told the press that he had contemplated leaving, explaining his thoughts:
“Before the manager came maybe a little bit”.
“But it’s football, it happens. Everything is going to happen for a reason and he came to the club at the right time for me, the timing worked out.”
When questioned about what had changed, he said:
“Freedom. We were just a little bit rigid in the past, sometimes you’re not enjoying your football and that was the case with me. I wasn’t enjoying my football as much as I should be, as much I was used to enjoying it”.
“Because of that it influenced my performance and ultimately that’s how I am as a person; if I’m not happy then it’s difficult for me to play my best football”.
“I’m hungry to keep improving and when the squad and the players and the staff keep improving and getting used to each other, pushing ourselves to be better than we were the year before. Ultimately that’s the only way we’re going to get back to winning trophies consistently”.
“He always wants you to improve, whether it’s physically or mentally, for us as players it’s important he works on both sides with us and if he sees an obvious place to make improvement then he doesn’t shy away from telling it. It’s important for development and you never really stop developing throughout your career.”
