Marcus Rashford was the talk of the land off the field and again showed his skills.
In a week the England international rallied support to take over the government in the struggle to get free meals for disadvantaged school children, he also did a wonderful hat trick in the Champions League.
Rashford was told to stick to football and was charged by some with “signaling virtues”. First senior hat trick for Manchester United in 5-0 win over RB Leipzig.
The 22-year-old didn’t arrive until just past the hour, but then met three times in 16 minutes in a virtuoso presentation of the clinical conclusion.
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: “Marcus has shown that he can continue to focus on what is important on and off the pitch at the moment. He did really well to get off the bench today.”
It’s been quite a month for the striker honored with an MBE and seeing his petition to end child food poverty over a million signatures.
With a 3-0 hat-trick chance, Rashford showed his generosity by handing the ball to Anthony Martial so the Frenchman could score on the spot.
When asked if there was any discussion, Rashford said, “A little, a little. I’m confident Anthony will take it too. So no problem.”
But there was still time for Rashford to get his third and only become the second United player – after boss Solskjaer – to score a triple as a replacement.
“I think the manager wanted me to pick up the pace,” he said. “That means for us to move forward. There were definitely rooms there.”
Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton described Rashford as “a brilliant footballer and a brilliant person” on BBC Radio 5 Live, while the player’s campaign was supported by his club, which is planning the distribution 5,000 meals cooked to local school children this week.
Describing the Red Devils striker “already a top top player”, Sutton added that they “looked a lot better when he got there”.
At the end of the game, a man who works to improve people’s lives had no fans to raise his hands to in celebration. He only received a pat on the back from his teammates before walking down the tunnel with the match point.
All three goals came off an abandoned Stretford End that would normally have bounced back with the return of Champions League football to Old Trafford.
Ex-United defender Rio Ferdinand described Rashford as “head and shoulders over Leipzig”.
He added, “It burns. It was on the front of the papers for all the right reasons, and tomorrow it will be on the back of the papers.”
“It’s like being sixth against the younger guys on the playground and he just bullies everyone – too fast and too hard.
“He made some of the defenders we raved about before the game look like students tonight.”
Student defense or school lunch – Rashford apparently got it all covered.
What you said on #bbcfootball:
Mark: Marcus Rashford is a man’s boss and a gamer’s boss.
Chris, Belfast: It will be ‘Sir Marcus Rashford’ by Christmas at that price!
Aleksandar Todorov: Marcus Rashford! What a player and what a great person. Absolutely world class performance and deserves the match point. Top class!
Kenny Kong: Rashford continues to work for Club & Country, the Man U striker can’t go wrong at the moment.
