Rampant Rashford answer Solskjaer's call
Marcus Rashford was instructed by Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to increase the Reds' tempo against RB Leipzig and our striker certainly answered the call.
Rashford scored a sensational second-half hat-trick after coming on in the 63rd minute.
The Group H match was on a knife-edge at 1-0 when the boss made the first of five substitutions just after the hour.
United turned on the heat and swamped the Germans with Rashford getting three, Mason Greenwood getting the ball rolling in the first half and Anthony Martial getting off the mark for the season from the spot.
“The manager told us when we came on to up the tempo and, for us, that means going forward and there were definitely spaces there and we managed to find the passes,” Marcus told BT Sport.
“We got Bruno [Fernandes] on the ball, Paul [Pogba] on the ball and Anto [Anthony Martial] running forward and we look dangerous and looked like we could score every time we went forward.
“It was a real team performance. The ones who started the game did well when they were on the pitch and the ones who came on did well.
“As a squad, we can’t really ask for much more than that in terms of attitude and intensity, and intent to go and kill a game off, and today it worked in our favour.”
Greenwood scored his first-ever Champions League goal after 21 minutes to put the Reds on the road to a terrific night.
“It's not surprising, he (Mason) is a top player and he needs to keep his head down, keep working hard and he can be an unbelievable player,” said our no.10.
Rashford’s first effort was the subject of a VAR check but correctly stood despite the assistant-referee flagging for offside.
“I thought I was in my own half and I was a bit confused when the flag was up,” said Marcus. “But all you can do is wait and see when the ball is in the net. We have to work with VAR, it is part of the game now and the quicker we get used to it, the better.”
Rashford could have had his hat-trick earlier than stoppage time when United were awarded a penalty in the 87th minute. But it was Martial who stood up and took the spot-kick to make it 4-0.
Was there any discussion that Rashford should have taken it?
“A little bit” admitted Marcus. “But I feel confident with Anthony taking them as well, so there was no problem.”
Our 2020/21 home, away and third kits are available to buy now from United Direct.