Is Marcus Rashford About To Get One Last Chance At Manchester United?

Marcus Rashford's Big Return

Marcus Rashford is back at Manchester United after his loan spell at Barcelona, but this summer feels completely different because he isn't simply returning from injury or another disappointing campaign. Instead, he is returning to a club under Michael Carrick, a manager whose style of football could be exactly what Rashford needs if he is going to revive his Manchester United career.

Personally, I think Carrick could be the perfect manager to get the best out of Rashford again.

Rashford played some of the best football of his career under Ole Gunnar Solskjær, consistently scoring double figures, producing assists and becoming Manchester United's biggest attacking threat. Carrick worked alongside Solskjær throughout that period and, since becoming a manager himself, has shown many of the same attacking principles while adding his own tactical ideas.

Both managers prefer positive, attacking football with quick transitions, and Rashford has always looked far more dangerous when he is running in behind defenders rather than receiving the ball with his back to goal. Those direct runs into space have always been one of the biggest strengths of his game and, because Carrick already knows exactly what Rashford is capable of, I believe he understands better than anyone how to get the best version of him back.

Rashford Can't Rely on Reputation Anymore

The biggest difference this time is that Manchester United have changed.

Bryan Mbeumo has arrived, Benjamin Šeško is expected to lead the line and Bruno Fernandes remains the creative heartbeat of the team, meaning Rashford now has genuine competition for places and can no longer expect to walk straight back into the starting eleven because of what he achieved a few years ago.

I also think one of the biggest criticisms from Manchester United supporters before Rashford left on loan was his attitude whenever competition for places increased. As more attacking players arrived and Rashford wasn't guaranteed to start every week, it often didn't feel like there was enough fight to force his way back into the team, and that is something that simply cannot happen again under Michael Carrick.

This time around, Rashford has to earn his place. If he performs and shows the right attitude, then Carrick should have no problem giving him opportunities, but if he doesn't then United finally have enough attacking options to leave him out.

In many ways, I actually think that competition could be the best thing for Rashford because it should push him back towards the standards that made him one of the Premier League's most exciting forwards.

Barcelona Proved the Quality is Still There

One thing I don't think should be forgotten is that Marcus Rashford actually had some very good moments during his loan spell at Barcelona. He contributed goals, created chances and showed that the quality has never disappeared, even if the consistency wasn't always there.

For me, Barcelona still wasn't the perfect style of football for Rashford. Michael Carrick's approach looks much more suited to his strengths because it allows forwards to attack space quickly and play on the counter, which is exactly the type of football that helped Rashford become such a dangerous player earlier in his career.

Having players such as Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Šeško and Bruno Fernandes around him could also benefit Rashford massively because he won't be expected to carry Manchester United's attack on his own anymore. Instead, he will have better players creating opportunities around him, taking defenders away from him and sharing the responsibility of scoring goals, which could play a huge part in rebuilding his confidence.

Now that Rashford is older and more experienced, I also think he should view this competition differently. Rather than seeing it as something that threatens his place, he should use it as motivation to prove that he still deserves to play for Manchester United.

No Excuses Left, Marcus

For me, this genuinely feels like Marcus Rashford's final opportunity to prove that he belongs at Manchester United because everything now seems to be in place for him to succeed. The manager suits his style of football, the system should allow him to play to his strengths and the club have strengthened the squad around him, meaning there are very few excuses left if he cannot rediscover his best form.

That doesn't mean Carrick should build the team around Rashford because I don't think that would be the right decision. Instead, Rashford should have to earn his place just like every other player in the squad, but if he embraces that challenge then I genuinely believe we could see the Marcus Rashford that Manchester United supporters fell in love with a few years ago.

If anyone understands exactly what Marcus Rashford looks like at his very best, then Michael Carrick should. However, this isn't the same Manchester United anymore and Rashford can't simply walk back into the side because of his reputation. He has to prove that he deserves to be there.

If Marcus Rashford can't rediscover his best form under a manager whose style appears perfectly suited to him, then I'm not sure we'll ever see the best version of him in a Manchester United shirt again, and Manchester United may finally have no choice but to move on.