Erik ten Hag says he has not waved a magic wand to spark Marcus Rashford into the immense form he is showing this season, but has simply helped the forward regain the confidence he was lacking.
The 25-year-old has been prolific since returning from the World Cup, scoring 10 goals in 10 games in all competitions since his trip to Qatar.
In total he has scored 18 goals in 29 matches this season and is set to smash his personal best of 22 in the 2019-20 campaign.
Ten Hag has clearly helped the England star recover his top form, but the Dutchman says it is mainly down to Rashford, although the new management team has helped put the structures in place for players to perform at their best.
‘I’m not Harry Potter!’ Ten Hag said. ‘It’s just confidence. Every player has to make and get his own confidence.
‘He fought for this, he invested in this. Of course with my coaching staff, we bring in structures, especially in the way of play that give him routines that he needs to get into the right position.
‘But finally, it’s up to him, to the player, and when the player has the confidence then I’m convinced, in the way we are working – the way of play is most important but also the environment and the culture are also important – then the player can perform at his best.
‘It’s obvious that Marcus at this moment is in really good shape, really good form. I think from day to day, from training to training, from game to game, the routines are coming in. The frontline now also gives me a positive feeling, it’s getting stronger as well, and then they can take more benefit from each other.
‘In the first (half of the) season, for instance, we had many problems in the frontline. Often we had games where we didn’t have players who were 100 per cent physically and mentally fit. Now that’s much more the case and Marcus can take even more benefit from such situations.
‘We made a construction of the staff where all positions are covered. You need different types in the squad from a technical approach but also from let’s say a human being and personality approach.
‘We tried to get the right set-up in our staff and so far I’m really happy with the coaching staff I have here at Man United.’
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