Benni McCarthy’s first season in England, the 2006/07 Premier League season at Blackburn, is still considered numerically better than Marcus Rashford’s peak of powers. For a player with over 200 career goals in over 500 games, that could explain a lot.
The South African was not a flashy player but had a proven record in the Netherlands, Spain and then Portugal before arriving at Ewood Park. The reason soon became clear.
McCarthy scored 18 goals and received a yellow card in eight matches. He was a pain in the ass, and an effective one at that. He has only kept one clean sheet in more than three games (that’s taken that tally to five) but has otherwise remained consistent. He scored in wins, losses, draws and received a brace only once.
READ MORE: 30 day warning, Ineos U-turn – Man United Erik ten Hag to be sacked after final decision
READ MORE: Richard Masters vows emergency Premier League after Man City row with Manchester United
There was no ‘stat stuffing’ here, just a striker doing his job well. Didier Drogba was the only player to achieve more than McCarthy that year, finishing with 20 points. Cristiano Ronaldo was really about to explode and reached 17. Wayne Rooney managed to score 14 points.
So when McCarthy was appointed as the exclusive forwards coach at Manchester United in 2022, there was a method to a move that raised more questions than answers in Erik ten Hag’s first summer. That McCarthy scored just 19 goals over the next three seasons (84 matches) is more in line with his age and injuries than a lack of power or prestige. There’s no reason to doubt what he could bring to a different, unplayed role.
It did not take long for McCarthy to make an impact on British soil as well. By Christmas 2023, Rashford was doing his best McCarthy impersonation. Rashford had previously scored 17 goals in a league season two years ago and had 21 direct contributions the year before. However, the player who came from behind in only four of 25 matches was not the player who had previously attracted the interest of Europe’s top clubs.
McCarthy arrived and Rashford found his buzz and form. In February alone, he put the disappointing performance of the 2021/22 campaign behind him, scoring 14 goals before injury slowed things down in the final months of the season. Mostly used as a winger rather than a striker, he played a key role in Ten Hag’s third-place finish.
The goals he scored in the Europa League and local cups helped him reach 30 points in the season. This was the last of the ‘world-class Rashford’ Old Trafford had seen.
He has 12 and 8 assists in 54 games, covering the entire 2023/24 season and the start of this season, compared to 30 goals and 11 assists in 56 games. McCarthy left just over 12 months ago in search of a position as head coach.
READ MORE: I saw the mistake people made with Marcus Rashford at Manchester United; There is a clear solution
READ MORE: Man United shortlist Liverpool’s ‘agreed deal’ amid pressure to sack Erik ten Hag
READ MORE: ‘Only Pep’ – Erik ten Hag made a statement on Manchester United’s sacking decision
What is clear from his time at United is that there has been a huge improvement in Rashford’s performances, although there is correlational evidence. The problem is that even then it was only half as big. Perhaps the loss of someone who undoubtedly had a positive impact was not truly taken into account.
McCarthy was in the news again after suggesting during the international break that Rashford had not received adequate response from United during his time at the club. “Rashford is a special person; he’s a special person,” McCarthy told South African broadcaster SuperSport. “He has a pure heart and is part of Manchester United through and through.
“He was ‘Marcus’ to me. I get straight to the point, and I think he respected that rather than me sweet-talking him for other reasons. I was just a straight shooter, and I guess he didn’t have enough men.” He has people in his life who are honest with him because everyone tells him what they want to hear because of who he is.
“I was normal and I think he appreciated any advice he could give me, advice on anything. We still text each other.”
Rashford has been criticized before for keeping his head in the clouds. Whether it’s his perceived laziness on the pitch, his priorities outside of football or the new contract he signed. Coming from a typically harsh South African background, McCarthy is not the type to mince words or offer preferential treatment.
This could be just what Rashford needed. The continuation of their relationship is an indication of this. But at the same time, the absence of McCarthy is likely to be felt, as is the absence of someone at United who could make the open transition to Rashford in a way that few others have openly done.
After all, we know Rashford has been a fan of McCarthy from the beginning. “I think he did a good job,” the now 26-year-old said in 2022. “It is always good for us to have a specific coach who focuses on us as a forward group.
“As we progressed, we worked harder as a team, which led us to create more chances and score more goals. So, it’s still early days and Benni himself will tell you that his goals are much bigger than what we’ve done so far. He continues to push us, to keep us improving.” It works.”
There was another layer on a personal level. “Benni was very good to me. As I said before, for all the strikers, you have to remember that Benni is part of a full coaching system, so everyone plays their part, so Benni is actually at the forefront of what we need.
“Yes, his relationship with me is very good. We talk a lot, always analyzing games and showing me ways to improve. You know, little things that can help me create more chances, score more goals, maybe create space for other players too. “We do a lot of work.”
United are currently in even more turbulent times. Rashford is out of form, out of sorts, lacking in confidence and seemingly devoid of support. Ten Hag has bigger problems to worry about, and from the outside, McCarthy’s vocal block is gone.
There are other names that Rashford is close to at the club, but it is hard to escape that he has achieved his best results with a strong South African by his side. McCarthy’s departure was not widely mourned, but the outcome could have been greater than expected.