England’s head coach, Thomas Tuchel, has expressed concern that Marcus Rashford is not fulfilling his potential and has urged him to avoid squandering his career opportunities.
Currently on loan at Barcelona, Rashford has netted three goals and provided five assists in 10 matches after experiencing a series of inconsistent performances at Manchester United.
The 27-year-old forward attributed his challenges, both on and off the field, to the constantly shifting dynamics at Old Trafford.
In a now-deleted interview with ITV shared on social media, Rashford remarked, “I feel like I’ve been in an inconsistent environment for a very, very long time.”
Tuchel, who unexpectedly included Rashford in his squad earlier this year, insists he still needs to see more from the player.
“For him, consistency is the key,” Tuchel stated. “He must continually push himself to reach his limits.
“I believe his potential is exceptionally high, perhaps higher than that of others. He possesses the talent, but ‘potential’ can be a risky term in high-level sports.
“To compete at this level, you must consistently reach your personal best, and that is the challenge for him.
“It’s not just about talent; it’s about proving himself both at the club and international levels. Whether he’s starting for us or coming off the bench, he has to demonstrate his worth continuously.
“He has the capability to be among the best in the world based on what I observe in training — his finishing skills with both feet and his head, his explosiveness, speed, and aerial strength indicate he has no limits.
“However, his statistics haven’t matched that potential. He needs to focus on contributing more to goals and assists, plain and simple.”
Despite a promising start in Spain, including two goals in a Champions League victory against Newcastle, Tuchel cautioned Rashford that his career is still a work in progress.
“He remains on that path,” Tuchel noted. “He must continue to make the right decisions. At his age, it’s crucial not to let opportunities slip away.
“Otherwise, he may reflect in ten years and feel disappointed about what could have been.”
Tuchel has also made headlines for his decision to exclude Jude Bellingham from the squad as he recovers from shoulder surgery.
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The Real Madrid star was previously part of a leadership group that included Harry Kane, Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice, and John Stones. Tuchel indicated that Bellingham could return to this group if called up in November.
When asked about Bellingham’s future in the leadership group, Tuchel responded, “I expect so. He was part of it when he was with us in camp.
“If you refer to it as a ‘leadership group,’ those players are the leaders and drivers of our team at this moment.
“They consistently lead by example; they are the captains who set the standards and mentality, often guiding us on the pitch.”