Marcus Rashford believes Erik ten Hag has restored the spirit and belief that can help take Manchester United back to the top.
Rashford, who scored his 100th United goal in Sunday's 1-0 win over West Ham, praised the impact Ten Hag has made since taking charge in the summer. United are currently on an eight-game unbeaten run, up to fifth in the Premier League and have kept clean sheets in their last five home games.
Rashford, whose goal boosted his chances of going to the World Cup with England next month, said Ten Hag has created a special bond with United's players and fans that has helped transform the club's fortunes.
“When you’re playing in a team sport, you want the players to be together and you want the players to be connected as best they can with the fans,” said Rashford.
“It’s stuff that he mentioned as soon as he came in. We’ve been working on that, not meaningfully, but we’ve been improving and the best way to do it is on the pitch and in games.
“Hopefully we'll keep doing that. Knowing the manager, he’s not one to let us rest on anything, he’ll make sure we keep pushing ourselves and pushing each other to keep improving. I just think the energy is a lot different, that’s the biggest thing, the energy is more positive.
“Within the whole team and at the training ground, for me that is the biggest thing. I just want it to keep going really and keep enjoying it, if we’re winning games I’m sure that will happen.”
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Rashford endured a miserable time last season, scoring just five goals in 32 appearances for United and losing his England place as a result. This season he already has seven goals to his name and said Ten Hag had helped restore his own self confidence after hitting rock bottom last term.
“He just wants me to be in the right areas, scoring goals, pressing high up the pitch, little things I’m trying to keep chipping away at,” said Rashford.
“Keep working, even if you’re not having the best of days, let’s try and stick to those principles, use that as a base and those fundamentals.”
It was fitting Rashford, who has been at United since the age of seven, scored the winner on the 85 th anniversary of the club having had an academy graduate in every match-day squad. “I don’t think that will be matched by anyone, it’s an unbelievable record,” said Rashford. “It's something the club prides itself on and it’s done us good, so hopefully it continues.”
Asked if he was thinking about the prospect of going to Qatar next month with England, Rashford said: “Not at the minute. I’m concentrating on the next game, we have to try and keep winning games here.
“We’ve got two more league games before the World Cup, if we win those two games we’ll stay [in and around] the top four, so that’s what I’m focused on.”
