UNAI EMERY GIVES HONEST ASSESSMENT OF MARCUS RASHFORD'S FIRST WEEK AT ASTON VILLA AS HE ADMITS GETTING MAN UNITED LOANEE BACK TO HIS BEST IS A 'HUGE CHALLENGE'
- Unai Emery has revealed he is 'very happy' with the signing of Marcus Rashford
- However, he has admitted regaining the forward's best form will be a challenge
- LISTEN NOW: It's All Kicking Off! Does the Premier League REALLY need to look at goal celebrations?
Unai Emery brushed off the difficulties Marcus Rashford has had with Ruben Amorim as the Aston Villa boss insists he is ‘very happy’ with his new striker.
Rashford has joined Villa on loan from Manchester United for the remainder of the season and hopes to make his debut in Sunday’s FA Cup last-16 tie against Tottenham.
The 27-year-old has not played since December 12 but asked how he had performed in training this week, Emery said: ‘I am very happy with him. The conversations I’ve had were very normal, a player and coach speaking about football, and all I want from him is the best football.
‘As a person as well, he’s been introduced to the dressing room as one more player helping us. His potential is huge to exploit. I don’t want to know the reasons he is leaving Manchester United.
‘I am very happy keeping him here to try to help him recover his performances. His challenge with us exciting and mine is huge. The club worked well in the window.
‘I am happy with him and will try to get the best of him. He will try to play and train as a normal player.’
Speaking on Thursday, Amorim said: ‘Thankfully about Marcus, he is in Birmingham now with Unai, so you can take these questions to another coach. I couldn’t get Marcus to see the way you’re supposed to play football and to train the way I see it.’
Rashford’s arrival and that of Marco Asensio means Donyell Malen, a £20million signing from Borussia Dortmund, has been excluded from Villa’s Champions League squad. UEFA rules permit only three new signings to be added to European squads – in Villa’s case, Rashford, Asensio and Axel Disasi.
Read more 2025-02-07T16:38:54Z