Marcus Rashford is fond of scoring against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Going into Tuesday night’s encounter, Rashford had notched three goals there, all in the red of his boyhood club Manchester United.
On his return to Manchester, Aston Villa’s on-loan striker was determined to add to that tally and came agonisingly close to doing so after just 20 seconds. Picking up a pass from Youri Tielemans, Rashford turned Ruben Dias inside out, making enough room to fire a shot across Stefan Ortega in the City goal.
Fortunately for the City duo, Rashford’s shot cannoned off a post and straight back into the arms of Ortega. But Rashford had served notice he was a threat that should not be ignored.
Rashford played a key role in the winning of a penalty that saw Villa level in the 18th minute, using his electric pace to stretch City’s defence before finding Jacob Ramsey, who was fouled by Dias.
After a VAR review confirmed the foul, Rashford stepped up and, blocking out the boos and whistles, coolly rolled the penalty past Ortega, for his fourth goal at City.
Yet it was not just his attacking prowess and goal threat that marked Rashford out as one of the game’s best players.
His relentless work ethic and willingness to put in the hard graft off the ball, which was found wanting at United and ultimately led to his departure, was impressive throughout.
That was epitomised just before the break, when Rashford sprinted 50 yards back towards his own goal, to dispossess Omar Marmoush, who was surging towards the Villa goal.
When United visited the Etihad in December, winning 2-1, Rashford was left out of the squad, his omission that day proving the beginning of the end for him under Ruben Amorim.
But he has revived his stalled career at Villa, earning an England recall, and showed on Tuesday night why he remains a potent threat when he plays to his full potential.
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