When Marcus Rashford turned his back despondently and failed to chase in a loose ball against Aston Villa on Monday night, Old Trafford reacted furiously.
Rashford had been having another poor game and the locals were getting frustrated, but this eruption of anger was the moment the last vestige of confidence in his game visibly disappeared.
The forward was replaced soon after and while there were some ironic cheers at his number going up, it should also be said that The Red Army singing section had spent the previous few minutes trying to lift Rashford through song.
Had the 24-year-old reacted sharply to Emiliano Martinez spilling the ball he might have had a tap-in, but in partial defence to Rashford the ball only popped loose to the extent it did once it had made contact with the Aston Villa goalkeeper. Initially, it looked like the Argentine had the ball secured.
But Rashford’s real reason for letting his shoulders slump and turning away was his own disappointment and not receiving a simple square ball from Mason Greenwood that would have left him with what probably would have been a tap in, although nothing is coming easy to his game at the moment.
We’ve seen Greenwood take on shots from the inside left channel on plenty of occasions but his run from the touchline had only marginally improved the shooting angle. It would have needed an exceptional finish to beat the imposing Martinez when an easier pass was on and in the end the shot was tame and straight at the goalkeeper.
Rather than show his anger at his fellow academy graduate, Rashford looked to the floor. Greenwood showed little inclination to pass but then he was denied what would probably have been an even easier finish just before half-time, when the situation was reserved.
This time Rashford broke down the right but he delayed his pass to Greenwood. It looked like he did finally try and pass it but by now Rashford was under severe pressure and couldn’t make clear contact. It could have been a shot, it could have been an attempted pass. Either way, the chance was gone.
There’s no suggestion that Greenwood and Rashford aren’t passing to each other, but those two incidents sum up the lack of confidence in their game and the lack of structure and unity in United’s attack at the moment. A team characterised as reliant on individuals under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has barely changed yet under Ralf Rangnick, who should eventually bring more cohesion to United’s forward play.
Rashford has now gone 11 appearances without a goal, having scored three in four games on his return from shoulder surgery in October. There was a theory at the time that the rest that injury brought would do him good, but this is now a sustained slump for Rashford, who was out of form for most of last season.
While he accepts those performances haven’t been up to scratch, Rashford’s camp would claim mitigating circumstances and he hasn’t had it easy since bursting onto the scene six years ago. He’s already on to his fourth manager, not including Michael Carrick, and his career has drifted from attempts to play him as a centre forward back out to the wing.
Right now, Rashford looks a long way from the talent United thought they had when he was 18. It should act as a warning signal when it comes to Greenwood’s development.
The 20-year-old is even more precocious than Rashford was and has been earmarked for a long United career since his earliest days in the academy. But he has just two goals in 18 appearances - both of them sensational - and also looks to be in a crisis of confidence.
Greenwood could also do with some clarity around his role. Like Rashford, he’s played up front, as one of Rangnick’s No. 10s and out wide in the last seven games. He’s played more often on the wing for the club, but there are still expectations he will eventually become a centre forward. He started the season excellently in that position but has hardly had a look-in centrally since the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo.
It doesn’t say a lot for this United squad that two of their homegrown forwards - players who should be lighting up Old Trafford - appear so demoralised at the moment. It's only 18 months since they combined on the wings in a United side that finished the delayed 2019/20 season in superb form in front of goal.
That vibrancy in their play has disappeared for now and the next manager to try and turn this ship around has to create an environment that allows young players like Rashford and Greenwood to play with freedom, rather than the weight of the world on their shoulders.
