Marcus Rashford told to drop excuses and 'change his personality' if he wants to save Man Utd career with Louis Saha 'upset' by his sudden improvement at Aston Villa

The past 18 months have been anything but smooth for Rashford. While he once stood as a symbol of hope and talent at United, he had struggled significantly with both confidence and output. In the first half of the season, Rashford tallied just eight goals and five assists across all competitions for United, a sharp contrast to the lofty expectations once set for him, and was eventually dropped by head coach Ruben Amorim before he moved to Aston Villa on loan in January.

However, since joining Villa, the forward has begun to rediscover his rhythm. In 12 appearances, he has found the back of the net three times and provided four assists - signs of the form that made him one of England’s brightest young stars. Former United striker Louis Saha believes that the loan spell could be a turning point for the England international, but only if the 26-year-old works on his mentality.

Speaking candidly in an interview with BetMGM, Saha laid bare what he feels is holding Rashford back: "I think he can go back to Manchester United, but he needs to change his personality and mindset. He has proved on the pitch what a top player he is, but all of this ego stuff he has to get rid of – it’s as simple as that. If you want to destroy defences and help the team be successful, you have to do it in so many different ways. I, like many, am a big fan and was really upset when he left Manchester United because of the reasons for it breaking down at Old Trafford, but especially more the way he is performing at Aston Villa."

Saha added on the narrative that external factors are to blame for Rashford’s struggles at Old Trafford: “It’s not about his teammates or the manager, it’s about him and until his attitude changes we won’t see the real Marcus Rashford. He has no excuses. It’s not about people, tactics or connections with the fans and it’s ‘bullsh*t’ for me anyone who says it is. It’s his job to find solutions and adapt. I do believe he can do it and if he decides to do it, I genuinely think he can do it anywhere in the world.”

Rashford’s current form will be put to the test when Aston Villa face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday evening in the French capital. He has an opportunity to shine on Europe’s biggest stage and perhaps catch the eye of potential suitors - including PSG themselves - before his loan spell ends.