MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) - Marcus Rashford has a claim to being the best striker currently playing in the Premier League as Harry Kane recovers from injury, Manchester United caretaker-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has suggested.
Rashford marked his 150th appearance for United with an outstanding goal as they defeated Brighton 2-1 in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Saturday (Jan 19).
England forward Rashford's 41st goal for the club came six days after he scored the winner against Kane's Tottenham at Wembley, and he now has seven goals in his past 10 appearances in all competitions.
England captain Kane damaged ankle ligaments against United, and is not expected to return to training until early March.
Solskjaer implied Kane, when fit, is the best centre-forward in England's top division, but suggested Rashford, 21, is increasingly showing his potential to be a top-class striker too.
"You can argue for many strikers but I'm glad he's in my team," said Solskjaer, himself a former United forward.
"Harry Kane's injured, so maybe that gives him (Rashford) a better chance to be the best at the moment.
"No one beats him on work-rate, no one beats him on attitude, and at the moment, he's very confident in front of goal."
'BEST FOOTBALL OF HIS CAREER'
The Norwegian added: "He finishes, he tries to shoot, he doesn't think twice about it. At the moment, I think he's playing the best football of his career."
United's win was their seventh in a row in all competitions, as Solskjaer became the first manager in the club's history to win his first six league matches in charge.
Their run has pushed them back into contention for a top-four finish, which would secure qualification for next season's Champions League.
Â
However, despite going 2-0 up before half-time, with Rashford's goal following a Paul Pogba penalty, United endured a nervous finish after Pascal Gross scored for Brighton with 19 minutes left.
Solskjaer, appointed after United sacked Jose Mourinho, accepted the team were still a work in progress.
"We need to improve a few things," he said.
"Defensively, we need to find our shape better. We need to defend better with the ball.
"We were under the cosh, we were winning 2-1, so keep it away from the opposition, let them run.
"At times today, though, we played some fantastic football. We could have scored two or three in the second half."
Brighton, in 13th place, have won just one of their past eight league matches, but showed enough in defeat to suggest they have the quality required to stay clear of trouble.
Chris Hughton's south coast side are seven points clear of the relegation zone, and face Fulham, Watford and Burnley in their next three league fixtures, following next weekend's FA Cup fourth-round tie against West Brom.
'DISAPPOINTING GOALS'
Hughton was annoyed by the way Brighton conceded two goals at Old Trafford, full-back Gaetan Bong failing to stop Pogba's run before fouling him for the penalty, while Gross did not get close enough to prevent Rashford from making it 2-0.
The Brighton manager could also reflect on the fact that top-scorer Glenn Murray lashed a clear first-half chance wide, when they trailed by only one goal.
"We're playing against a Manchester United team in very good form at the moment," said Hughton.
"They're probably pressing higher, and they've got a really good momentum at the moment.
"That's why you know you've got to defend really well against them, and certainly not give away what I would regard as disappointing goals."
The Seagulls boss added: "But as with any team that want to press high with the energy that they do, there are areas to exploit."
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 07, 2019, with the headline 'Players to watch in France'. Print Edition | Subscribe
Women's World Cup 2019: Here are the top 10 players to watch
Huddersfield manager Jan Siewert has backed Philip Billing after the club's Danish midfielder was subjected to "brainless" racist abuse on social media. West Yorkshire Police arrested a 16
Huddersfield ace Philip Billing exposes sick racist abuse
Real must 'suffer' to win, says Solari, Football News & Top
Salah lauds 'unbelievable' Liverpool after Champions League glory
The club also announced club president Lay Hoon Chan had submitted her resignation and that she would be replaced by Anil Murthy. After rumors arose of Lim's attempts at selling the club, Murthy assured the fans and local media that Valencia was a long term project for both him and Lim, and they would not consider selling the club.
"The club would like to thank Jose for his work during his time at Manchester United and to wish him success in the future. A new caretaker manager will be appointed until the end of the current
Manchester United Sack Jose Mourinho, Caretaker Manager to be
Qatar has stunned Japan and the football world to win a historic Asian Cup crown. Football world in shock over insane Asian Cup boilover. North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, South Korea, the
2019 Asian Cup: Son aims to continue golden period with South
Guardiola Dismisses Klopp's 'No Weaknesses' Claim About City that his Manchester City side are showing "no sign of weakness" in the Premier League title race. Stadium on January 3 and
AFC Asian Cup 2019: Qatar reach final after routing UAE 4-0 amid booing of national anthem, shoe-hurling Amid shoes being thrown in insult, Qatar won its politically charged match against host United Arab Emirates 4-0 and advanced to the Asian Cup final
Watch: Qatar thrash UAE amid ugly scenes to reach Asian Cup final
Paine delighted with Aussie grit in second Test victory
Cristiano Ronaldo also scores twice, making him Serie A's leading scorer with 17 goals to put Juve in command but a brilliant goal by Gervinho means the Turin side's lead over Napoli cut to nine
Football: Juve foiled by Gervinho brace after leading 3-1
allmysportsnews.com/soccer/football-juve-foiled-by-gervinho-brace-after-leading-3-1/
Football: Juve foiled by Gervinho brace after leading 3-1 Posted on 02/03/2019 MILAN (REUTERS) - Parma forward Gervinho scored twice as his team hit back from 3-1 behind on Saturday (Feb 2) to draw 3-3 at Serie A leaders Juventus who dropped points for only the third time in the league this season.
Soccer: Juve foiled by Gervinho brace after leading 3-1 - Reuters
Mark Lawrenson is backing Chelsea FC to bounce back to winning ways in the Premier League with a 2-0 win over Cardiff City on Sunday. The Blues suffered a disappointing 2-0 loss to Everton at
Cardiff 1-2 Chelsea - Premier League 2018/19: Live score
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen