MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) - Marcus Rashford has a claim to being the best striker currently playing in the Premier League as Harry Kane recovers from injury, Manchester United caretaker-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has suggested.
Rashford marked his 150th appearance for United with an outstanding goal as they defeated Brighton 2-1 in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Saturday (Jan 19).
England forward Rashford's 41st goal for the club came six days after he scored the winner against Kane's Tottenham at Wembley, and he now has seven goals in his past 10 appearances in all competitions.
England captain Kane damaged ankle ligaments against United, and is not expected to return to training until early March.
Solskjaer implied Kane, when fit, is the best centre-forward in England's top division, but suggested Rashford, 21, is increasingly showing his potential to be a top-class striker too.
"You can argue for many strikers but I'm glad he's in my team," said Solskjaer, himself a former United forward.
"Harry Kane's injured, so maybe that gives him (Rashford) a better chance to be the best at the moment.
"No one beats him on work-rate, no one beats him on attitude, and at the moment, he's very confident in front of goal."
'BEST FOOTBALL OF HIS CAREER'
The Norwegian added: "He finishes, he tries to shoot, he doesn't think twice about it. At the moment, I think he's playing the best football of his career."
United's win was their seventh in a row in all competitions, as Solskjaer became the first manager in the club's history to win his first six league matches in charge.
Their run has pushed them back into contention for a top-four finish, which would secure qualification for next season's Champions League.
Â
However, despite going 2-0 up before half-time, with Rashford's goal following a Paul Pogba penalty, United endured a nervous finish after Pascal Gross scored for Brighton with 19 minutes left.
Solskjaer, appointed after United sacked Jose Mourinho, accepted the team were still a work in progress.
"We need to improve a few things," he said.
"Defensively, we need to find our shape better. We need to defend better with the ball.
"We were under the cosh, we were winning 2-1, so keep it away from the opposition, let them run.
"At times today, though, we played some fantastic football. We could have scored two or three in the second half."
Brighton, in 13th place, have won just one of their past eight league matches, but showed enough in defeat to suggest they have the quality required to stay clear of trouble.
Chris Hughton's south coast side are seven points clear of the relegation zone, and face Fulham, Watford and Burnley in their next three league fixtures, following next weekend's FA Cup fourth-round tie against West Brom.
'DISAPPOINTING GOALS'
Hughton was annoyed by the way Brighton conceded two goals at Old Trafford, full-back Gaetan Bong failing to stop Pogba's run before fouling him for the penalty, while Gross did not get close enough to prevent Rashford from making it 2-0.
The Brighton manager could also reflect on the fact that top-scorer Glenn Murray lashed a clear first-half chance wide, when they trailed by only one goal.
"We're playing against a Manchester United team in very good form at the moment," said Hughton.
"They're probably pressing higher, and they've got a really good momentum at the moment.
"That's why you know you've got to defend really well against them, and certainly not give away what I would regard as disappointing goals."
The Seagulls boss added: "But as with any team that want to press high with the energy that they do, there are areas to exploit."
PARIS (AFP) - Arsenal face an uphill battle to progress in the Europa League after a 1-0 defeat by BATE Borisov in the last-32 first leg which saw Alexandre Lacazette sent off on Thursday (Feb 14)..
Arsenal beaten by BATE as Lacazette sent off - worldfootball.net
The latest Tweets from CroatianSports (@CroatianSoccer). Your 'ONE STOP SHOP' for all things Croatian sports! Soccer, basketball, MMAwe cover it all!. Los Angeles, CA
Slaven Bilic: 'Croatia can win it. When we take off, it's an
Unai Emery admits Arsenal's 3-2 defeat to Crystal Palace was very frustrating but he tried to sound an optimistic note ahead of Wednesday's game with Wolves.. The Gunners starting lineup, heavily rotated by the Spaniard, struggled to cope with the visitors from the off and found themselves 1-0 down when Christian Benteke scored for the first time since fire was invented.
Emery, Wenger, Kroenke: who to blame for Arsenal's sh*tshow
Angel Di Maria scored a sumptuous free-kick and Kylian Mbappe was also on target as Paris Saint-Germain continued their relentless march towards another French title by hammering Montpellier 5-1 on Wednesday.
Draxler on Cavani, Neymar & Mbappe: They have big - goal.com
Jan 16, 2019 · A win and the collection of three points always has a neat symbolic value, but it was the performance that achieved this that said so much more about Solskjaer, and has boosted his chances of
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer appointed Man Utd boss, but is it the
Ex-PAP MP & ex-FAS chairman Zainudin Nordin among 4 arrested & out on police bail for donation saga. New plot twist. Chan Cheow Pong FAS General Secretary Winston Lee,
Football Association of Singapore - Singapore's official home
Incumbent Infantino sole candidate for FIFA presidency in
Low savours 'good signal', Football News & Top Stories - The
Chelsea face partial stadium closure over alleged racist
Monaco coach Thierry Henry. (Reuters pic) PARIS: Thierry Henry was suspended by Monaco on Thursday and looked set to lose his job as coach after only three months in charge at the Ligue 1 club.
Ligue 1: Thierry Henry starts dream job at Monaco | Sports
Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missed a 90th-minute penalty as a scrappy north-London derby against Tottenham Hotspur ended in a 1-1 draw on Saturday. Hugo Lloris got down low to keep out
Kane and Lloris rescue point for Spurs against Arsenal
Football: Ozil leads five-star Arsenal past Bournemouth
Football: Solskjaer praises buccaneering Man United players after stylish win Manchester United interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrates after the match with Jesse Lingard. PHOTO: REUTERS
Solskjaer Praises Buccaneering Man United Players After
Emery wary of Valencia's recovery potential in 2nd leg
VALENCIENNES, France (REUTERS, THE GUARDIAN) - Barbara Bonansea scored twice to give Italy a surprise, last-gasp 2-1 victory against Australia in their opening Group C game at the women's football
Soccer: Italy upset Australia with Bonansea double - gcf-vn.org
0 comments:
Post a Comment