Richard Keys speaks out on Rashford and Aston Villa after he was ‘battered’
Marcus Rashford took a significant step toward silencing his doubters as Aston Villa progressed in the FA Cup.
The Villans secured their place in the semi-final of the competition by comfortably defeating Preston North End on Sunday (30 March) at Deepdale.
Rashford scored a brace against the Championship side, which marked his first goals since joining Unai Emery’s side in January, while Jacob Ramsey wrapped things up to secure a 3-0 win.
It was an impressive result that booked Villa a trip to Wembley Stadium to play Crystal Palace as they continue their search for silverware this season.
Richard Keys believes in Rashford
Many pundits and fans alike have shared their opinions on Rashford in recent times, and Richard Keys is no exception to that, but he believes that the move to Villa Park has been the right one for him, as he explained on his latest blog.
“I got battered when I called Rashford out a few seasons back, but I wasn’t wrong,” he wrote.
“I don’t know the truth behind his fall from grace at Old Trafford, but it can’t have helped having to work for [Erik] Ten Hag.
“Like everyone else, Rashford must’ve dreaded going to work during that deadly dull period, although he could and should have done better.
| 2024-25 Stats (All Teams) | Rashford |
| Appearances | 34 |
| Goals | 9 |
| Assists | 7 |
| Minutes Played | 2,042 |
“A lot of people were unsure about Villa’s decision to take him, but for me it was a no-brainer. At his best, he’s a class act. He needed to work for someone that believes in him, and in Emery, he’s got that.”
Emery has put his faith in Rashford by signing him in the first place despite his form at the time, and he’s continuing to pay that back.
Rashford is being rewarded for his risk
Rashford could quite easily have remained at Old Trafford, collecting his contract and simply training and getting on with his time, but he opted to take a risk and leave his boyhood club in January for game time.
That’s something that has worked for the versatile forward as he is slowly starting to return to form and showcase the level of quality fans associate with him, while Manchester United continue to flop.
Rashford is reaping the rewards of his decision-making now, both personally and within the team, as Villa fight for the FA Cup and Champions League.
Meanwhile, Rashford was called up into Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad as he is slowly getting back to the level that he expects.
The on-loan Villa star played in both of England’s recent World Cup qualifiers and impressed with his performances as he continues to try and recapture the magic that once surrounded him.
Finishing the season with silverware and medals around his neck would be huge, with United left scrapping for the Europa League under Ruben Amorim in mid-table.