'Inconsistent environment' - Marcus Rashford seemingly blames Man Utd for recent struggles as Barcelona loanee explains inability to deliver top performances on a regular basis

Rashford has been in fine form for Barca since moving to Spain and has remained in manager Thomas Tuchel's England squad as a result. Last season was an altogether different story, as he contributed seven goals to United's cause in 24 appearances, and was loaned to Aston Villa in the January transfer window. In Birmingham, he scored four goals and laid on six assists.

His struggles for form at United had seen him left out of Gareth Southgate's squad for Euro 2024; indeed, prior to the tournament his last appearance came for England on March 23, 2024, in a 1-0 defeat to Brazil. He was restored to the squad almost exactly a year later, playing in the 2-0 win over Albania on March 21, 2025. 

In Rashford's final two seasons at United before moving to Barcelona, they finished eighth and 15th, and he appears to believe that the club had a detrimental effect on his performances, as he looked to explain his own inconsistency. 

He told ITV Sport: "For sure, consistency is a massive part of it. I feel like I have been in an inconsistent environment for a very long time, so it is even more difficult to be consistent. But I completely agree, I think consistency is what I need to bring into my game and I am looking to do that.

"I want to be at my best, not sometimes, but as often as possible. When people talk about consistency, in order to be consistent in anything not just sport, you need consistent variables in your life and the way you train.

"We have just had so many changes so far in my career but I have to look forward and that it definitely one of the things I want to put right and improve on to be at my best more often. When I am at my best I really enjoy everything about the sport."

Barca's sporting director Deco agrees with Rashford's assessment, and has hinted that the club do want to him to stay beyond this season. 

He said: "It's too early to talk about decisions for next season, but what matters is that we're happy with him. What we thought he could bring to us, he's bringing.

"He's a very high-level player. He exploded very early, then he had great seasons at United, then he had years of more complicated management with changes of coaches, and perhaps he struggled too because they demanded a lot of things from him there. But we're happy with him - that's the most important thing.

"These aren't decisions for now. Now it's time to focus on the games to come. A decision will be made, but that's not being discussed right now. There's a contract between the clubs but it has to be discussed."

Hansi Flick has been equally impressed, hailing him as "outstanding" after his brace against Newcastle in the Champions League, adding: "I am not surprised [by his goals]. I think he's a fantastic player. His skills are unbelievable and his finishing is unbelievable.

"I think also in the first half, he tried to create chances, but the finishing wasn't there. In the second half it was.

"For a striker, it's always good to score. I am really happy. He is an important player. When we spoke before the season about what we needed in the team, we felt we needed a player like him.

"When we had this chance [to sign him], I said we have to do it. He's an outstanding player."

Barcelona play Girona in LaLiga once the international break is over, before taking on Olympiacos in the Champions League. Rashford has international commitments first; England face Latvia on Tuesday in their next World Cup qualifier. A win for Thomas Tuchel's side could see them qualify for the 2026 tournament, as the winger looks to play in his fifth major tournament, after Euro 2016 and Euro 2020, as well as the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.