Post by Sméagol on Apr 25, 2017 21:36:43 GMT
When Marcus Rashford side-footed his debut Manchester United goal against Midtjylland 14 months ago few will have noticed his lack of flashy footwear.
Everybody was caught up in the glorious moment as the 18-year-old Reds' academy product resurrected a flagging United campaign.
When Rashford dragged back his right foot in front of the Stretford End against Anderlecht last week for his left-foot extra-time Europa League winner, his boots were a slightly more eye-catching white and turquoise.
A golden pair may be more appropriate for him, these days.
Everything has changed for the Mancunian teenager.
But then again nothing has changed.
And that is why Rashford, still six months away from exiting his teens years, is a dream. A credit to his Withington and Wythenshawe upbringing with mum Melanie and brothers Dane and Dwaine.
A credit, also, to his football education at Old Trafford.
His career since stroking home Juan Mata's cross against the Danes last February has seen another double against Arsenal, an unforgettable derby winner at the Etihad against City, an England call-up, a trip to the European Championship in France, a new United contract thrown.
Once again Rashford is the toast of Old Trafford and back in scoring form.
But those original boots tell the full story of a kid with his feet on the ground in a head-turning world.
“Growing up here at United there was a black boot only policy (in the academy). From being a kid here at nine-years-old there has always been that black boot policy,” Rashford told MEN Sport.
“At the start you don't really buy into it but by the end you learn to love it as well. Probably would always wear them if it was my choice!
“Nowadays with sponsorships it is a case of 'there is the boot, you wear it' and there is not much you can do about it. However, if it was my choice it would always be black.”
Rashford has been surrounded by role models at Old Trafford, equally there have been examples of wasted talent who had the ability but squandered it.
It is safe to say the Mancunian won't be in the latter category.
“Whatever you want to happen is going to happen. If you want to throw it all away and go and start messing around then nobody is controlling you. It is down to the person,” Rashford added.
“People can advise you and do what they can to try and help you but at the end of the day it is down to you. You know what is right and wrong. It is important I have to do the right things.
“You see it more often now with young players after they first get into the first team there are a lot of distractions all over but, especially at United, we have a lot of examples of people ignoring all that and keeping to their football.
“It was important to have my brothers instilling all the good things into me when I was young to the point where it was second nature. They were an influence when it was needed. Now I know what is right and wrong.”
When Rashford leaves United's Carrington training complex or after a match he'll still hook up with the same pals he's had since the self-confessed 'street footballer' was playing in the road, on wasteland and the school playground.
“My group is quite closed. I don't bring new people in, maybe that is a bad thing, but I don't leave myself open to giving anyone an opportunity to tarnish me,” he said.
“I have kept it quite closed. The same lads I have been with since I was 7, 8, 9, 10 are the same friends now.
“We used to play everywhere when I was a kid. Parking lots over the road, the number of times we got told to come off the school field when school wasn’t open is amazing.
“All of my friends have always loved football and still do now. If we could we’d still do all those same things now but it’s a bit more difficult now!
“We still go to a quiet field every now and then, though. But the opportunities are a little less now!
“It’s just your nature. It’s what you’ve always done. You want to play football all the time. Why change? Even at home now I get that urge to go out and play football. It’s something you can’t do as much any more obviously but I’m always getting those urges.
“At home, I’ve always got a football. Playing football with my brothers, in the garden, in the house, anywhere. Do we break a lot? Yeah. And my mum always shouts.”
At least he can pay for the damage these days.
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/manchester-united-news-marcus-rashford-12943485
Everybody was caught up in the glorious moment as the 18-year-old Reds' academy product resurrected a flagging United campaign.
When Rashford dragged back his right foot in front of the Stretford End against Anderlecht last week for his left-foot extra-time Europa League winner, his boots were a slightly more eye-catching white and turquoise.
A golden pair may be more appropriate for him, these days.
Everything has changed for the Mancunian teenager.
But then again nothing has changed.
And that is why Rashford, still six months away from exiting his teens years, is a dream. A credit to his Withington and Wythenshawe upbringing with mum Melanie and brothers Dane and Dwaine.
A credit, also, to his football education at Old Trafford.
His career since stroking home Juan Mata's cross against the Danes last February has seen another double against Arsenal, an unforgettable derby winner at the Etihad against City, an England call-up, a trip to the European Championship in France, a new United contract thrown.
Once again Rashford is the toast of Old Trafford and back in scoring form.
But those original boots tell the full story of a kid with his feet on the ground in a head-turning world.
“Growing up here at United there was a black boot only policy (in the academy). From being a kid here at nine-years-old there has always been that black boot policy,” Rashford told MEN Sport.
“At the start you don't really buy into it but by the end you learn to love it as well. Probably would always wear them if it was my choice!
“Nowadays with sponsorships it is a case of 'there is the boot, you wear it' and there is not much you can do about it. However, if it was my choice it would always be black.”
Rashford has been surrounded by role models at Old Trafford, equally there have been examples of wasted talent who had the ability but squandered it.
It is safe to say the Mancunian won't be in the latter category.
“Whatever you want to happen is going to happen. If you want to throw it all away and go and start messing around then nobody is controlling you. It is down to the person,” Rashford added.
“People can advise you and do what they can to try and help you but at the end of the day it is down to you. You know what is right and wrong. It is important I have to do the right things.
“You see it more often now with young players after they first get into the first team there are a lot of distractions all over but, especially at United, we have a lot of examples of people ignoring all that and keeping to their football.
“It was important to have my brothers instilling all the good things into me when I was young to the point where it was second nature. They were an influence when it was needed. Now I know what is right and wrong.”
When Rashford leaves United's Carrington training complex or after a match he'll still hook up with the same pals he's had since the self-confessed 'street footballer' was playing in the road, on wasteland and the school playground.
“My group is quite closed. I don't bring new people in, maybe that is a bad thing, but I don't leave myself open to giving anyone an opportunity to tarnish me,” he said.
“I have kept it quite closed. The same lads I have been with since I was 7, 8, 9, 10 are the same friends now.
“We used to play everywhere when I was a kid. Parking lots over the road, the number of times we got told to come off the school field when school wasn’t open is amazing.
“All of my friends have always loved football and still do now. If we could we’d still do all those same things now but it’s a bit more difficult now!
“We still go to a quiet field every now and then, though. But the opportunities are a little less now!
“It’s just your nature. It’s what you’ve always done. You want to play football all the time. Why change? Even at home now I get that urge to go out and play football. It’s something you can’t do as much any more obviously but I’m always getting those urges.
“At home, I’ve always got a football. Playing football with my brothers, in the garden, in the house, anywhere. Do we break a lot? Yeah. And my mum always shouts.”
At least he can pay for the damage these days.
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/manchester-united-news-marcus-rashford-12943485
