Marcus Rashford has disclosed that his brothers issued him a challenge to score 100 goals for Manchester United before he turned 25. Rashford achieved this milestone against West Ham United on Sunday, with only one day remaining before his birthday.
Rashford's header in the 38th minute ensured that Erik ten Hag's team kept their perfect record intact courtesy to the goal. The 25-year-old was picked up by Christian Eriksen extremely well at the back post, and the Dane's brilliantly weighted cross was headed powerfully beyond the reach of Lukasz Fabianski. Christian Eriksen did an outstanding job.
It was inevitable that Rashford would score, given that the United forward was able to get off three shots in the opening 16 minutes, demonstrating his attacking intent from the very beginning of the match. When asked about it after the match, the forward admitted that the prospect of becoming the 22nd player in the club's history to achieve the century mark had been weighing heavily on his mind.
Rashford said in an interview with Sky Sports, "It's been on my mind the previous few of games." "Thank goodness it arrived when it did after all the waiting I had to do.
"The atmosphere at the club and on the training ground is totally different from what I was expecting. That puts me in a better headspace, and now I feel extremely inspired to get things done. There were instances when I was having difficulty with more mental issues. It wasn't really my performance that was the issue, but rather other things that happened off the pitch. That is the most notable change compared to the previous campaign.
"During the course of the previous season, I didn't put enough mental preparation into each game. The fact that some of these things were happening didn't take me by surprise at all.
Rashford has scored in back-to-back games for the first time since January, showing Gareth Southgate exactly why he should be included for England's World Cup team. This is the first time since January that Rashford has scored in back-to-back games.
Even if that wasn't enough to motivate him, it now seems that the man who works for United had additional reason to be motivated because of a wager that he made with his brothers. On Instagram, Rashford announced that his siblings had issued him a challenge to score 100 goals for the club before his 25th birthday on Monday, October 31. His 25th birthday is on Monday, October 31.
After the match, Ten Hag was questioned about whether or not Rashford is capable of being regarded as an elite striker, and the Dutchman gave an answer that left no room for interpretation.
"He is already doing it. If you score 100 goals for Manchester United before you turn 25, you will be given a special award. However, it is about the trophies that may be won with your team, and I believe that he has even more potential to grow.
"Two headers [in consecutive games]: we've put in a lot of work on that, we knew we needed to get better, and you can see the results. He is much more consistent and resilient than before; although he is already a fantastic player, there is still opportunity for him to grow. Who knows how it will wrap up [his career], but I have no doubt that it will be a successful one."
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