by Such a goal could rarely have a more rotten postscript. By the final whistle, Marcus Rashford hardly looked like a figure who had produced one of the great strikes of any Manchester derby. That look was far back, as he wandered down the tunnel to another sharp United account. A miserable finish, yes, but it wasn’t just City’s three second-half goals that clouded his mood. After all, he followed up his impressive run with two fluffed chances, prompting his substitute Antony with 15 minutes remaining. Indeed, it is the eternal enigma.
As Rashford made his way, the TV cameras immediately focused on Gareth Southgate here in the Etihad stands. The juxtaposition was no accident: the winger, who has emerged as a front-runner for his country, has been the best member of the squad thanks to his recent performances, creating a dilemma for the England manager who stood with him. Phil Foden’s performance, his international colleague, greatly relieved his problems. Where Foden was consistently radiant for City, Rashford’s light shone only quickly.
Even before sending United fans into delirium with one elegant swipe of his right boot, Rashford had delivered a pointed rebuke to his many critics. “If you give me back, good,” he said. “If you doubt me, it’s even better.” This was the subtext less than very subtle of his celebration, as he hared out towards the end of it and showed his finger on his temple as if to draw attention to his psychological strength. But the joy of righteousness would not last.
Before he knew it, Rashford had been sent through with a precious opener to double United’s advantage – absurd though that might have been in the context of City’s dominance – and he put his lines badly. Released through the middle, he failed, still absorbing the euphoria of the destiny, to bring the ball under control, which allowed the danger to be cleared. Just before City drew level, he had a second chance to counter the penalty, finding himself with only Kyle Walker to beat. The response was half-hearted, as, toe-to-toe with the fastest player in the Premier League, he crumpled in a heap.
Although Rashford was convinced he had been cut, the reviews were less conclusive. Erik ten Hag protested strongly for him, earning a booking for his trouble and later reflecting: “Maybe soft, but there was contact.” From there, United’s goalscorer almost disappeared from the picture, suffering the embarrassment of being replaced by Antony, the £85 million passer who is among the club’s worst signings of the last 25 years. The manager insisted there were extenuating circumstances, explaining how Rashford and Jonny Evans were selected for this derby despite carrying injuries.
At times, you wonder if it helps to offer Rashford immediate relief. His first-person article last week, titled “Who I Really Am”, smacked at someone who struggled to deal with even justifiable criticism of his attitude on the pitch, which at times came off as impatient. “My family turned down money that changed my life so I could wear this badge,” he said. Roy Keane, the kind of captain United desperately needed to arrest the club’s slide into dysfunction, was impressed by that comment.
“I wouldn’t be happy to hear about the sacrifices he made, the money he turned down,” said Keane, after a United display that highlighted that gulf with City. “He’s doing well. A lot of the fans who go to games week after week are saying the same thing, so maybe Marcus needs to reflect, to think, ‘Maybe there are times when I’m not closing people down’. Expectations are high because of the last few seasons, where he has scored many goals. United would like to see more of him. Sometimes, you need to take a closer look at yourself. There is nothing wrong with needing improvement.”
By Keane’s standards, it was complacent. This was not the lacerating ferocity he once reserved for Harry Maguire and David De Gea when he considered them to be less than fully committed to the United cause. He seemed to care enough about Rashford, to recognize that a rare talent is still trying to tackle the trappings of the Warriors amid the garish headlines about the Belfast party and Carrington’s car crash.
Furthermore, anyone who saw United’s late collapse against City would agree that Rashford is far from his No. 1 headache. His struggles can be seen as symptoms of a wider malaise at his club, where mediocrity is too easily accepted and perennial irritants such as Bruno Fernandes are somehow considered a viable heir to Keane as captain.
Rashford deserves no renewed pillory after this result. He produced a goal that leaped straight into the canon of derby day greats, even if it was destined to be a footnote to defeat. What was frustrating, however, was that there were some all-too-familiar mistakes in the lead-up to this mastery. United are desperate for Rashford to be the decisive difference-maker. Instead, he is cast as someone who eagerly throws himself into life – and then horribly disappears.
