Rashford Embracing Change in Mentality in Breakout Season for United

Football - Europa League - Manchester United Training - Aon Training Complex, Manchester, Britain - February 22, 2023 Manchester United's Marcus Rashford during training. (Reuters)
Football - Europa League - Manchester United Training - Aon Training Complex, Manchester, Britain - February 22, 2023 Manchester United's Marcus Rashford during training. (Reuters)
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Rashford Embracing Change in Mentality in Breakout Season for United

Football - Europa League - Manchester United Training - Aon Training Complex, Manchester, Britain - February 22, 2023 Manchester United's Marcus Rashford during training. (Reuters)
Football - Europa League - Manchester United Training - Aon Training Complex, Manchester, Britain - February 22, 2023 Manchester United's Marcus Rashford during training. (Reuters)

A change in mentality has helped Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford find his best form this season, the 25-year-old said as he hopes to guide the team to their first trophy in nearly six years at the League Cup final on Sunday.

United manager Erik ten Hag said Rashford is a doubt for Sunday's League Cup final against Newcastle United, but the England international is hopeful to be cleared to play after limping off in United's Europa League win against Barcelona.

Having overcome injury issues in previous campaigns, Rashford has been in red-hot form for United this season with 24 goals, his career-best. No player in Europe's top-five leagues has more goals than him since the World Cup break.

"Football is probably 95% your mentality," Rashford told British media. "That gives you the baseline to perform. There are a lot of players that have ability - that's why they play at the top level. But what sets them apart is the mentality.

"I've been on both sides of it. I understand the strength of it and the value. I'm concentrating a lot more on keeping myself in that headspace and it's needed in order to win games and trophies."

The in-form forward, who has become popular for his trademark goal celebration where he points his finger to his head, said he has been working on improving his positioning on the pitch.

"I'm in the areas to score. It's something I've been working on and in the last few years I feel like even the seasons where I've done all right I could have added another 10 or 15 (goals)," he said.



Nice Extends Great Home Run with 3-2 Win over Plucky Rennes

Rennes's midfielder #75 Seko Fofana passes the ball next to Nice's Ivorian forward #29 Evann Guessand during the French L1 football match between OGC Nice and Stade Rennais Football Club at the Allianz Riviera Stadium in Nice, south-eastern France, on January 3, 2025. (Photo by Frederic DIDES / AFP)
Rennes's midfielder #75 Seko Fofana passes the ball next to Nice's Ivorian forward #29 Evann Guessand during the French L1 football match between OGC Nice and Stade Rennais Football Club at the Allianz Riviera Stadium in Nice, south-eastern France, on January 3, 2025. (Photo by Frederic DIDES / AFP)
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Nice Extends Great Home Run with 3-2 Win over Plucky Rennes

Rennes's midfielder #75 Seko Fofana passes the ball next to Nice's Ivorian forward #29 Evann Guessand during the French L1 football match between OGC Nice and Stade Rennais Football Club at the Allianz Riviera Stadium in Nice, south-eastern France, on January 3, 2025. (Photo by Frederic DIDES / AFP)
Rennes's midfielder #75 Seko Fofana passes the ball next to Nice's Ivorian forward #29 Evann Guessand during the French L1 football match between OGC Nice and Stade Rennais Football Club at the Allianz Riviera Stadium in Nice, south-eastern France, on January 3, 2025. (Photo by Frederic DIDES / AFP)

Nice beat Rennes 3-2 to move into fourth place in Ligue 1 on Friday.
Both sides produced chance after chance in an entertaining match and it was the home side which took the lead after 12 minutes, The Associated Press reported.
Tanguy Ndombélé’s superb lofted pass put Evann Guessand through on goal and he held off a grappling defender to side-foot the opener.
Arnaud Kalimuendo equalized after 27 minutes for Rennes but Sofiane Diop put the home side ahead again seven minutes later when he picked up a poor pass by goalkeeper Steve Mandanda and fired home.
Former Rennes player Gaëtan Laborde made it 3-1 in first-half stoppage time with the aid of a neat assist from Guessand.
The visitor got a goal back three minutes into the second half when the keeper spilled a long-range shot and Adrien Truffert followed up to poke into the empty net.
Both sides pushed for more goals but Nice held on, even after Pablo Rosario was sent off in stoppage time for a high tackle.
The result preserved Nice’s unbeaten home record and lifted it on to 27 points, equal with Lille and two points ahead of Lyon.
Rennes remained 12th.