“What could have been”: National team boss fires warning at United loanee despite strong start to loan move

Manchester United’s on loan winger Marcus Rashford has been sent a stark warning by his national team coach, Thomas Tuchel.

On loan at FC Barcelona

The winger has not played for United since December last year when he was left out of the squad to face Manchester City at the Etihad.

He was then sent out on loan to Aston Villa in January and made a temporary switch to FC Barcelona this summer.

The Englishman has impressed in Spain, scoring three goals and providing five assists for the Catalans in all competitions.

His strong form has also seen him return to the England squad and he scored a penalty against Serbia last month during the World Cup qualifiers.

He played 45 minutes in a friendly against Wales last time out and will look to be involved when The Three Lions face Latvia later on today.

Tuchel’s warning

The Standard report that the German coach has had some words of warning for the 27 year old however.

Speaking ahead of the qualifier on Rashford Tuchel asserted, “it’s not a question of talent, it’s a question of whether he can prove the point at club and international level.”

He continued, “otherwise, he will be disappointed in 10 years at what could have been and what he made of it. I think the limit for him is very, very high. Maybe higher than for others.”

The German coach warned that potential is not enough and that Rashford had to find a way to “reach his personal best on a regular basis – that is what is demanded on this kind of level, and that is the challenge for him.”

One of the best

Tuchel also claimed that the forward can be “one of the best in the world because the quality I see in training, the finishing with both legs and with the head.”

Nonetheless, he stated that the numbers don’t match the talent and that is something Rashford will need to figure out quickly if he is to ever reach his true potential again.

Featured image Michael Regan via Getty Images


The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Alex has a Master’s degree from Queen’s University Belfast and La Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. Having lived in the country since 2011, Alex is The Peoples Person’s Spanish football expert and is fluent in both Spanish and Catalan. He dreams of witnessing a United captain triumphantly hoisting the Premier League and Champions League trophy in the air once more.

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