Marcus Rashford was booed by his own fans when he was substituted in Manchester United’s 2-1 Europa League win at Viktoria Plzen.
The Englishman’s stock amongst United supporters is at rock bottom, and some of the travelling Red Army made their feelings crystal clear in the Czech Republic last night, as per the Manchester Evening News.
Despite scoring three goals since Ruben Amorim took the reins last month, Rashford’s body language has been consistently shocking.
The forward appears dejected and disinterested for much of his time on the pitch, even in Amorim’s first game in charge when the forward put his boyhood side ahead after 80 seconds at Ipswich Town.
It was the same story at the Doosan Arena, and as he left the pitch on 56 minutes to be replaced by match-winner Rasmus Hojlund boos were heard echoing from the away end.
The Englishman did not acknowledge Amorim as he left the pitch, unlike Tyrell Malacia and Joshua Zirkzee who made way five minutes later.
Hojlund spared United’s blushes with an excellent brace, pouncing with a poacher’s instinct to snatch an equaliser before securing three points with a well-taken finish two minutes from time.
And while the young Dane’s high-energy performances may not always yield such good results, they endear him to supporters who can see his hunger to succeed.
That’s in stark contrast to Rashford, for whom many fans’ patience seems to have finally run out.
Negativity around players and managers is rife online, but generally the match-going United faithful look to get behind the team no matter what.
But Rashford, who has arguably been on thin ice for over a year, was certainly on their bad side last night. He has been here before, notably when he was substituted during last season’s home Manchester derby and the FA Cup semi-final against Coventry City.
Things feel different this time around, though, with the Carrington graduate seemingly no longer untouchable and with a radical squad shake-up on the cards.
Moreover, Rashford – who has always been seen as United through-and-through – is said to be fed up and ready to quit Old Trafford.
United are thought to have slapped a £40m price tag on the 27-year-old, who should be in his prime but is chronically underperforming, and could sell as early as January.
Paris Saint-Germain have been linked with the player in the past, but reports surfaced earlier this week that Barcelona are interested in signing him.
Feature image Michael Regan via Getty Images
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Joe Ponting
Joe has spent more than half his life writing about football and all of it following United. As a child he told a doctor his name was ‘Paul Scholes’, but could never pick a pass like him no matter how much he tried.
