MARCUS RASHFORD has been hailed by Manchester United fans for ‘powering through like a champ’ after an eye-watering incident at Old Trafford.
The 26-year-old started the Carabao Cup clash against Leicester to mark the first game of the post Erik ten Hag era.
The Dutchman was sacked on Monday with club legend Ruud van Nistelrooy taking interim charge.
But Rashford endured his own pain on the pitch after being caught by an opponent’s boot in the groin.
The England man crumpled to the turf, and eventually after rising to his feet, held the sore area with his hand.
But he was soon back running for his new gaffer – which led to United fans hailing his resilience.
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One United fan wrote on X: “Holding on and powering through like a champ!”
Another added: “We’ve all been there”, while some posted amusing yet wincing GIFs of people being kicked in the groin area.
And one decided to point out the obvious, writing: “Must be hurt.”
That moment in the 48th minute proved to be the last bit of action on a pulsating first half of football with Van Nistelrooy at the helm.
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United went into the break 4-2 up thanks to an unlikely brace from the much-maligned Casemiro, and strikes from Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes.
But Leicester netted through El Khannouss and Coady to keep things interesting.
Rashford only lasted until the 62nd minute when he was replaced by Amad Diallo.
And he was given a standing ovation by the fans as he made his exit.
But by that time United had banged another past the helpless Leicester keeper, through Fernandes again, to make it 5-2.
United are still negotiating with Sporting CP to make Ruben Amorim their new manager.
Amorim, 39, was made the number one target for Man Utd earlier this week and now it seems as though he wants the deal just as much.
According to Sky Sports, Amorim has told his current employers that he wants to leave and take up the job with the Red Devils.
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Sporting are also said to believe that Amorim has agreed terms with Man Utd.
United have already agreed to pay the £8.5m release clause to get their man.
Ruben Amorim is ‘Mourinho 2.0’ who turned Sporting from ‘walking dead’ into Portuguese champs… he can revive Man Utd
WHEN Ruben Amorim took charge of Sporting Lisbon in March 2020, one club official compared their situation to the “walking dead”, writes Jordan Davies.
Optimism and hope was at an all-time low.
But the Amorim-effect was almost instantaneous, guiding the Portuguese sleeping giants to their first league title for 19 years in 2020/21, losing just once and only conceding 20 goals.
Since then, Sporting have lifted another league title in 2023/24 – as well as two League Cups – and currently sit top with nine wins from nine this term.
He may be young, but Amorim already has an eye for rebuilding and revitalising fallen super powers with his infectious charisma and intense tactical philosophy that hardly ever wavers.
The “walking dead” at Manchester United must be praying for a similar sort of revival.
And they may just get it from one of the most talented young coaches on the continent – a man accustomed to breathing new life back into crumbling institutions such as Old Trafford.
Amorim has spent the last decade dreaming of one day gracing England’s Premier League, such was his admiration for an ex-United boss in Jose Mourinho growing up.
Often nicknamed ‘Mourinho 2.0’, Amorim spent a week with his coaching idol in an internship capacity at United’s Carrington training base in 2018, going on to cite him as his “reference point”.
United should not be expecting a mini-Mourinho, as Amorim said himself: “Mourinho is one of a kind. There won’t be another Mourinho. Mourinho is unique.”
And yet, you cannot help but compare the two.
For all the mismanagement in the Old Trafford hot seats over the years, this would be a real get – finally a slap in the face United’s Prem rivals have no answer for.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
