Casemiro's break hasn't helped - Man Utd must move him on

Spurs are about to unleash their best academy star since Kane

Calafiori can be the answer to Arsenal's problem position 

Chalobah snub embodies 'shambolic' Chelsea ownership 

GOAL's World-Class Club: Women's football's true elite

Argentina complain to FIFA over Morocco chaos at Olympics

Transfers LIVE: Arsenal open talks with PSG for Fabian Ruiz

REVEALED: Man City slap huge asking price on Alvarez

Wrexham world record holders! Reynolds receives official plaque

📽️ | Vinicius Jr embarrassingly sat down in futsal match

New club & partner for Mbappe? Real star gets cosy with model

Goodman sends warning to Walker in fresh swipe at Man City star

Ancelotti reveals how Mbappe fits into his Real Madrid team

Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Red Devils picked up three points at Goodison</li><li>Garnacho scored spectacular opener</li><li>Spot-kick converted before third from Martial</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Revealed: Why Bruno Fernandes let Marcus Rashford take Man Utd penalty vs Everton & score just his second goal of the 2023-24 campaign

Club Friendlies

Arsenal

Manchester United

The England international forward hit a personal-best 30 goals for the Red Devils last season, but headed to Goodison Park in 2023-24 with just one effort to his name. He was able to double that tally from the spot on Merseyside, with club captain Fernandes stepping aside after a VAR review presented United with an opportunity to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/man-utd-player-ratings-vs-everton-alejandro-garnacho-kobbie-mainoo/blt9347aa3fc0a65407" target="_blank">score their second of the game</a> from 12 yards – following a spectacular <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/watch-goal-of-season-already-won-alejandro-garnacho-channels-cristiano-ronaldo-overhead-kick-man-utd-everton/blt75198f52dae4a569" target="_blank">overhead kick opener from Alejandro Garnacho</a>.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Quizzed on why he passed the ball to Rashford, Portuguese playmaker Fernandes – who is the Red Devils’ go-to option on penalty duty – told <a href="https://twitter.com/SkySportsPL/status/1728846515953623212" target="_blank">Sky Sports</a>: “Because I felt that Marcus needed a bit of confidence, needed goals. Marcus is an excellent penalty-taker too. I’m 100 per cent sure that he could score the penalty. It’s not about who takes it, it’s about scoring the penalty and Marcus did it perfectly.”

WHAT FERNANDES SAID

Rashford has <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/marcus-rashford-warned-freaks-lionel-messi-cristiano-ronaldo-never-took-season-off-one-goal-man-utd-forward/blt2ae51bb44048d95a" target="_blank">faced plenty of uncomfortable questions this season</a>, on the back of signing a lucrative new contract at Old Trafford, but Fernandes says none of the 26-year-old’s team-mates have ever doubted his quality. He said when asked if Rashford’s confidence has dipped: “Obviously strikers, wingers, they want to score goals, they need to score goals, that’s part of their game and it gives you a boost. After the penalty, Marcus was unstoppable – he could take on everyone. I think sometimes you need this chance, this opportunity to get confidence back. But Marcus has been great for us. Obviously last season he was amazing, so everyone’s expectations for this season were higher. It’s just about getting his goals back and everyone will stay say that he is world-class again.”United boss Erik ten Hag added to BBC Match of the Day when asked how much Rashford needed his goal: "A lot. You see also how great captain Bruno is. He assessed his team-mate needed that goal. He has the confidence in Rashy, who is a good penalty taker. As a team you need that leadership that you back each other. We have to go step by step. This is one step."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/watch-anthony-martial-man-utd-striker-opens-premier-league-account-2023-24-superb-finish-bruno-fernandes/blt1f5aef730d55013c" target="_blank">Victory for United</a> has kept them sixth in the Premier League table, with Erik ten Hag’s side now just four points adrift of the top four and six behind leaders Arsenal. They will be back in action on Wednesday when facing Galatasaray in the Champions League.

WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

Revealed: Why Bruno Fernandes let Marcus Rashford take Man Utd penalty vs Everton & score just his second goal of the 2023-24 campaign | Goal.com

Bruno Fernandes has explained why he let Marcus Rashford take a penalty for Manchester United in their 3-0 victory over Everton.