Manchester United could come into tonight’s clash with Barcelona as underdogs, although they are still a side that boast one of the most in-form players in world football.

It will take a huge team effort to get a positive result, but it will be equally important for star man Marcus Rashford to rise to the occasion and inspire his team to victory.

The 25-year-old is currently as good as any other striker with 13 goals in 14 games, a feat all the more remarkable considering only one of them started as a striker.

It means Rashford now has 21 goals for the season and only needs one more to match his all-time best tally, which seems certain with so much still to play for. Rashford’s predicament is that his versatility is not only a huge advantage for his approach, but often holds him back given that he can be used in any of the attacking roles depending on the needs of the game. the team.
This is particularly important heading into the first leg with Barcelona, ​​given that United’s hopes may well hinge on Rashford’s exit in attack.

United would probably be better off approaching the game with the same counter-attacking setup they adopted in wins over Liverpool, Arsenal and Man City this season.

Rashford picked up all three of those wins, the first two when he played in his preferred role from the left and the other when he moved through the middle in the latter stages of the game.

Throughout his career he has been at his best when deployed on a large scale, given that he plays to his strengths as a dribbler, but this season he has shown he still has a lot to do. offer in the middle as a traditional striker. . Rashford worked closely with Benni McCarthy to gain invaluable experience at centre-forward, and improved as the season progressed with regards to his movements and reading the game in the final third.