December 23, 2024

Martial, Rashford and Co give Man Utd spades of attacking flair… but they lack the end product Sancho would bring

Rashford #Rashford

MANCHESTER UNITED’S attacking prowess is like a starter and main course of a meal, without the dessert.

Some of the build up play by the likes of Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood is simply mouthwatering.

Anthony Martial had plenty of chances to score against Sevilla - but failed to do so

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Anthony Martial had plenty of chances to score against Sevilla – but failed to do soCredit: Reuters Marcus Rashford will also be gutted at not finding the back of the net

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Marcus Rashford will also be gutted at not finding the back of the netCredit: EPA

But there is a distinct lack of sweetness – in this case goals.

Yes, Martial has netted 23 times this season, Rashford 22 and Greenwood 17 in all competitions.

But the first two could be in Cristiano Ronaldo hauls of goals for this season if they had taken all their chances.

Whether it’s been heroic defending, losing balance at the vital time or a dodgy decision, United have struggled to really kill off opponents.

Jadon Sancho, heavily linked with United, rarely fluffs his chances

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Jadon Sancho, heavily linked with United, rarely fluffs his chancesCredit: Getty Images – Getty

We saw it against Copenhagen in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

Yes, the Danes’ keeper Karl-Johan Johnsson had an inspired game, but all three United strikers should have netted in normal time of that game.

And again tonight in the 2-1 loss to Sevilla, everything in the build-up was perfect at times, but that killer instinct just wasn’t there.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side should have been home and hosed at half-time against perennial Europa League success-stories Sevilla.

But all they had to show for a host of chances created was a penalty, their 22nd of the season, scored once agains by Bruno Fernandes.

Martial was labelled a £100million player by United legends Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes and Owen Hargreaves after that Copenhagen game and likened to a Ferrari.

But to really be at that level, he needs to repeat Ronaldo’s 37 goals, Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski’s incredible 54 and Lazio ace Ciro Immobuile’s 37.

One player who shows all the coollness of those player when it comes to taking his chances could be winging his way to Old Trafford.

United are heavily linked with bringing in England star Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund this summer.

The 20-year-old’s development at Borussia Dortmund has been nothing short of sensational – Manchester City must be raging at letting him leave so easily.

Sancho has netted 20 goals this season, and in this United team who create so much you could see him adding another 10 to that.

If Sancho joins that would mean Rashford, Martial and Greenwood competing for the other two slots.

If that competitions doesn’t tell them to take their chances then nothing will.

Ferrari Martial needs to get into sixth gear or find himself reversing out of the starting XI