RIO FERDINAND revealed the meaning behind Marcus Rashford’s new goal celebration – mentality.
The red-hot Manchester United forward has scored 24 goals in all competitions and since the World Cup he points to his head after hitting the back of the net.
United icon Ferdinand visited the Carrington training ground on Monday and got to the bottom of the origins of the celebration.
Ferdinand said: “The celebration, it’s mentality. Nice and simple. But it’s travelled massively. Everyone around the world is doing it now. All the young kids scoring goals, that’s the impact Rashford has had.
“Seeing Marcus just smiling – I’ve said this so many times – just seeing him smile, there’s a different vibe about him. He’s enjoying himself, there’s a spring in his step. I had a nice chat. Nice vibes in the place.”
BT Sport pundit Ferdinand interviewed United midfielder Bruno Fernandes ahead of Thursday’s crunch Europa League knockout second leg with Barcelona at Old Trafford.
READ MORE ON MAN UTD
The tie is perfectly poised at 2-2 following a thriller in Spain last week and comes just three days before the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle at Wembley on Sunday.
And Ferdinand has backed Erik ten Hag to secure his first piece of silverware since taking charge of United last summer.
Ferdinand, speaking on his YouTube show Five, added: “It could be a season-defining week. I think United will go through against Barca and beat Newcastle. First trophy down. (Nick) Pope being out is a massive plus for United. It was huge.
“This game is enormous for Manchester United because it is the sign of new times. There is a desperation within the walls at Carrington and Old Trafford to win and get this trophy because this will signify a lot.
Most read in Football
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
“It will be a big point in the right direction for the manager in what he is trying to implement is right. It will justify a lot of what he is putting into the team on the training pitch and the culture of the football club.
“He is laser focused on detail and driving a culture. There’s a togetherness within the squad. All the best teams have it. The vibe when they’re out training, doing the rondos, there’s a different energy that I haven’t seen for a while.
“The vibes at Carrington and Old Trafford have changed dramatically. It’s become more positive, the ambience in the place. The cafeteria has even changed. It’s like everything has changed. Looks different, feels different, food’s different. The feeling when you walk in, I’ve had very negative vibes over the years when I’ve walked through the corridors of the training ground.
“I was on my own, walking back out through the training ground, through the corridors, and I stood there and just smiled. I can sense something happening in here now. I don’t what it is or where it’s going to but the ambience is very different. There’s a confidence in the place.
“And the confidence isn’t about the players alone, it’s the staff. I can sense something with the staff. They’re more upbeat, happy to be at work every day. And that’s all been generated and created by Erik ten Hag and his management team and some people behind the scenes, because there’s not one person who is able to change the whole culture of a football club – it’s a collaborative approach.
“They are on the right path right now and given they’re in the running for four trophies still, not that I think they’ll win four. They have been fantastic of late. It’s nice to go to Carrington and Old Trafford and feel more optimistic than negative.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
