27 May 2023 , 21:30
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Erik ten Hag has challenged Marcus Rashford to become his 40-goal-a-season striker.
Rashford is enjoying his most prolific season in front of goal - and has become the first Manchester United player since Robin van Persie 10 years ago to find the net 30 times in a single campaign.
His finishing power has powered the Reds back into the Champions League and to a Carabao Cup triumph ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup Final showdown with Treble-chasing rivals Manchester City.
But Ten Hag has now called on Rashford to become United’s answer to Erling Haaland by stepping up another level - and he has also urged the club to bring more goals to his team next season by backing him in the transfer market.
Ten Hag said: "Yes, I think there is more to come from Marcus. There's a lot of room for improvement in his game and I'm convinced he can score even more. When you take, for instance, the last 10 games he didn't score many goals. I think only two or three, so yes he can improve. I am happy about what he has done. He has brought himself back.
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"We supported him where we could, with the way we play but also in his mental mindset. We are happy with him, but we must push him more. I think Marcus is capable of scoring 40 goals in a season. For him, that's the next step."
Erik ten Hag wants more from Marcus Rashford (Jose Breton/AP/REX/Shutterstock)Do you think Marcus Rashford can become an even better player? Let us know in the comments below!
Ten Hag would love to bring Harry Kane into the Old Trafford fold - but the Tottenham striker will cost in excess of £100million. Napoli’s Victor Osimhen is another target but would also command a hefty fee.
Ten Hag added: "Across the squad, we need more scoring abilities. You can't be dependent on one player. It can also come from this squad - but we need more scoring options."
Ten Hag has ticked all the boxes laid out for him when he arrived from Ajax last summer - but the Dutchman wants even more. United bring the curtain down on their Premier League campaign against Fulham - and then it’s onto Wembley and the chance to stop their City rivals emulating Sir Alex Ferguson’s legends of 1999.
Ten Hag said: "When I came here one year ago I said we wanted to win trophies. We have won one - but now we want to go for the highest. We have come a long way but this is going to be a project. It is not over one year. We are talking two or three years.
"But when there's an opportunity to win a trophy, for every player it's massive. I had a count and there are not so many players in our squad who have won the FA Cup. It is huge.
"The FA Cup is all over the world. It is global wide with a huge reputation. We have an opportunity to win it. We are realistic that it's not going to be easy, but I can assure we will give everything in our power to get the cup."