While Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United has continued to struggle, Marcus Rashford has found new life at Aston Villa—and the numbers don’t lie.
Not long ago, Marcus Rashford was nowhere near Manchester United’s starting XI. Cast aside by newly appointed manager Ruben Amorim, the 27-year-old forward had gone from being one of the club’s most celebrated stars to an afterthought at Old Trafford. But while Amorim’s United has continued to struggle, Rashford has found new life at Aston Villa—and the numbers don’t lie.
The Portuguese boss is facing growing pressure as Marcus Rashford continues to outshine his former club, surpassing all Manchester United players in a crucial stat since his loan move to Aston Villa. Since switching sides in February, the forward’s performance has highlighted the ongoing issues at Old Trafford, with his impressive resurgence under Unai Emery proving that he wasn’t the problem at United.
A move to the Villa Park was initially seen as a step down for Rashford, a player who had once been considered the future of Manchester United. However, under Unai Emery, he has rediscovered his confidence and form, playing a key role in the club’s attack alongside Marco Asensio.
His most recent contribution came in Villa’s 3-0 victory over Club Brugge in the Champions League Round of 16 second leg. Rashford provided an assist for the Spaniard, further strengthening a partnership that has been flourishing in recent weeks. The duo’s chemistry has given the Birmingham side a much-needed boost, with both January signings proving instrumental in the club’s success.
The connection with the ex-Real Madrid star has been one of the most productive attacking partnerships in the second part of the season. The Englishman’s ability to cut inside and create space has given Asensio the freedom to make late runs into the box, leading to five goals from the Spaniard that have been directly set up by Rashford.
Grim reality for Manchester United
The 27-year-old’s impressive form at Villa has further exposed Manchester United’s attacking woes under Ruben Amorim. Since Rashford left, the Red Devils’ creativity in the final third has been alarmingly poor.
According to Statman Dave, Rashford has registered more assists (4) than any Manchester United player since his departure on February 2. In the same period, only four United players have provided assists across all competitions:
- Bruno Fernandes (2)
- Alejandro Garnacho (2)
- Diogo Dalot (1)
- Rasmus Hojlund (1)
This damning statistic paints a clear picture: Rashford has been more productive for another club than any of his former teammates have been for United. His fall from grace at Manchester United was swift and painful, but his revival at Aston Villa has been nothing short of remarkable. Once criticized for a lack of effort and inconsistency, he is now proving to be a game-changer in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, where Villa will face Paris Saint-Germain.
