by Benni McCarthy’s 2006/07 Premier League season at Blackburn, his first in England, is clearly numerically superior to the peak of Marcus Rashford’s powers. For a player with more than 200 career goals in more than 500 appearances, it can explain a lot.
The South African was not a great player but he had created records in Holland, Spain and then Portugal before arriving at Ewood Park. Before long it was clear why.
McCarthy scored 18 times and was booked in eight games. It was a proper and effective pest at the. He only went more than three games without a goal once – a run that extended to five – but otherwise remained consistent. He scored in wins, losses, draws, and only once did he get a brace.
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There was no ‘stat-padding’ here, just a goalscorer who did his job well. Didier Drogba was the only player to score more than McCarthy that year – finishing with 20. Cristiano Ronaldo was on the verge of truly breaking out and hit 17. Wayne Rooney managed 14.
So when McCarthy was appointed as Manchester United’s new coach in 2022, it was a move that raised more questions than answers in Erik ten Hag’s first summer. As McCarthy only managed 19 goals in his next three seasons (84 games) his age and injuries are more of a concern than his lack of powers or prestige. There is no doubt what he could bring to another role that he does not play.
It didn’t take long for McCarthy to make an impact back on British soil either. By Christmas 2023, Rashford was doing his McCarthy best. Now, Rashford had scored 17 goals in a league season, coming two years earlier, and had 21 direct contributions the year before that as well. Coming from the back in four out of 25 games however, he was not the player who had previously attracted interest from top clubs across Europe.
McCarthy came in and Rashford got his mojo and some form. In February alone he surpassed the disappointing output from 2021/22, and was on 14 goals before injury slowed things down in the final months of the season. Still often used as a winger, rather than a striker, he was a key part of Ten Hag’s third place finish.
Goals in the Europa League and domestic cups helped him reach 30 for the season. That was the last of what is now seen as ‘prime Rashford’ seen at Old Trafford.
Compared to 30 goals and 11 assists in 56 appearances, he has 12 and eight in 54 since, which includes all of 2023/24 as well as the start of this campaign. McCarthy left just over 12 months ago in search of a head coaching job himself.
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It’s clear from his time at United, although there was evidence based on correlation, that Rashford’s performances were vastly improved. The issue is that it wasn’t even for half the time. However, the loss of someone who had an undoubted positive effect may not have been seriously considered.
McCarthy is back in the news during the international break after suggesting that Rashford did not get enough push back from those at United during his time at the club. “Rashford is special – he’s a special person,” McCarthy told South African outlet SuperSport. “He has a pure heart and is Man United through and through.
“He was “Marcus” for me. I’m straight to the point and I think he respected that instead of me sweet-talking him for other reasons. I was just a straight shooter and I think it’s probably not many people. in his life that’s just him because everyone tells him what he wants to hear because of who he is.
“I was just normal and I think he was grateful for any kind of advice he could get to me – advice on anything. We still message each other.”
Rashford has been criticized for having his head in the clouds before. Be it because of his perceived laziness on the field, his priorities outside of football, or indeed the supposed new contract he signed. As someone from a typically tough background in South Africa, McCarthy is not the type to mince words or offer preferential treatment,
Perhaps that was just what Rashford wanted. It is a sign that their relationship continues. But at the same time, McCarthy’s absence may be felt, with United a figure who will cut forward to Rashford in a way few of them have in public.
We know, after all, that Rashford was a fan of McCarthy’s from the outside. “I think he’s done a good job,” said the now 26-year-old in 2022. “It’s always good for us to have a specific coach who focuses on us as a group going forward.
“We worked more as a team going forward, which created more chances and scored more goals. So, it’s still early days and Benni will tell you that his ambitions are far greater than what we’ve done so far. He keeps pushing us, he keeps trying to make us better.”
On a personal level there was another layer as well. “Benni was great with me. As I said before, with all the lads up front and you have to remember that Benni is part of a whole coaching system so everyone plays their roles, so Benni is more than what we need.
“Yes, his relationship with me is very good. We talk a lot, we are always analyzing games and showing me ways to improve. You know, little things that will help me make more chances, more goals, maybe create space for other players too. We are doing a lot of work.”
United are now in even more turmoil. Rashford is out of form, out of sorts, out of confidence, and seemingly out of support. Ten Hag has bigger issues to worry about, and from the outside, McCarthy’s sound block is gone.
There are others who Rashford is close to at the club, but it’s hard to escape the fact that his best results came with rough South Africa by his side. McCarthy’s departure was not much to mourn, but the end result may have been more than expected.
