Marcus Rashford should become Manchester United captain in a bid to revive his flagging form, Dimitar Berbatov believes.
Handing top responsibility to Rashford over Bruno Fernandes could be a motivational turn of the screw for Erik ten Hag, the Bulgarian believes.
Rashford has scored three goals all season, but after a career-high 30 goals in his career, former Man United frontman Berbatov has backed him in response to their scoring woes.
‘I think at some point Ten Hag should give him the bracelet and say, ‘look, I’ve given you even more responsibility, it’s up to you to stand up and show me what you could have. ‘ Just provoke him and see what happens,” says the Betfair Ambassador tells Mail Sport from his parked car.
“That new contract he signed in the summer should give him the confidence to move on and stay at United, but at the same time understand that he is experienced enough, mature enough, that he has to lead the forwards.
Marcus Rashford should become Manchester United captain to ‘provoke’ his best form, Dimitar Berbatov has argued
Erik ten Hag is struggling to control his attackers, but Rashford, who scored 30 goals last season, could be the answer to their problems.
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‘In his case something is going on. I do not know what it is. Maybe something in his personal life, maybe something in the dressing room, maybe something on the training pitch. Obviously it doesn’t work like it used to anymore.
‘And he has to find that answer as quickly as possible. If he finds the answer, it could be the answer for the team that will score more goals.”
Rashford signed a £300,000 deal until 2028 this summer but has since suffered the most desiccated period of his career.
The toothlessness of Manchester United as a whole means they have only beaten Burnley and Sheffield United in the league this season – and none have a worse strike rate than their seven percent.
£72m summer savior Rasmus Hojlund has scored one goal in 15 Premier League games.
Rashford, Anthony Martial and Antony have between them scored fewer goals in all competitions than Douglas Luiz, a central midfielder, has in the league.
Berbatov explained to Mail Sport that United do not need a new striker this transfer window
He believes more competition could alienate or motivate 20-year-old Rasmus Hojlund, who has one goal in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Jadon Sancho is goalless, banned and on loan to Borussia Dortmund for the rest of the season after failing to apologize for an Instagram post in four months.
Four experienced attackers made their shortlist at the start of the transfer window: Thomas Muller, Timo Werner, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Serhou Guirassy. The first two won’t happen, but should they sign a new striker?
‘No. Because the January transfer window can be difficult. And if you haven’t done your homework before the transfer window opened to know exactly who you want to buy, and you’re waiting and waiting for the waiting, it means you’re just wondering, you’re just lost, you don’t know. If they don’t know what to do, I don’t think they should buy anyone,” Berbatov explained.
“If they have a plan, implement it now. If not, stick with the strikers you have because if they buy, say, a number nine, what is Rasmus going to think?
“He’ll say, ‘Wait a minute, guys. Yes, I’m still a young player, but you just bought me. And now you buy another one? Are you disappointed in me?” Then his self-confidence will drop even further.
United are among the lowest scorers in the Premier League, scoring just twice from 33 shots against Wigan in the FA Cup
‘But on the other hand, someone will say: what about the competition? Maybe he’s thinking, ‘Okay, someone’s coming to my house. Maybe I’ll improve my game even more.”
He added: “The worst thing you can do as a footballer is hide from the ball. So I hope that’s not the case yet in Rasmus’ case because he scored his first Premier League goal, but it’s now vital and very important for him to follow up with more goals. Because if another period of drought follows, even more questions will arise.’
Manchester United’s next assignment is to clear Tottenham at Old Trafford on Sunday – and Berbatov is backing the home side to win despite the glaring problems he sees from behind his sunglasses.
To hear more from Betfair’s Dimitar Berbatov, listen to him on this week’s Football…Only Bettor podcast here.