Marcus Rashford’s best moments in recent years have come on the left flank, when given license to push his pace and beat full-backs in 1v1 situations.
These spells have often coincided with his Manchester United team-mate Luke Shaw, whose overlapping and underlapping runs cause uncertainty for defenders.
Shaw’s injury concerns hurt Rashford’s form even before the appointment of Ruben Amorim, whose system involves a left No. 10 rather than a left winger, and this role requires players who cut inside, are comfortable dribbling and passing out of tight pockets, and possess the positional awareness to know where to be without the ball.
They are also required to be patient with their decision-making, which is even more important as United get to grips with this new system.
Rashford’s game involves staying wider — as the graph above shows — and dribbling to unbalance defences. This is what makes him a significant threat in transitions, as he showed under Erik ten Hag in 2022-23.
Rashford notably enjoyed his best games of this season playing as a centre-forward under both Ruud van Nistelrooy and Amorim. While that is not his preferred position, it is one where he can help his next team — whoever that proves to be.
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Where Rashford and Garnacho are struggling on the pitch as Amad thrives under Amorim
