Jofra Archer x Marcus Rashford 🫡
Marcus Rashford and the goal celebration that is transcending football
https://theathletic.com/4132027/2023/01/29/marcus-rashford-celebration/
Marcus Rashford is the most in-form player in the
Premier League, if not in European football. The
Manchester United forward has scored 10 goals in as many games since returning from the
World Cup, already twice as many as last season. When playing like this, he is that rarest of things:
a player who can score at any moment, in any manner, from anywhere.
Yet, whether it is a toe-poke from inside the six-yard box
as against Manchester City, the screamer from long range in the defeat to
Arsenal, or a brilliant solo run through defenders as though they are not there like against
Nottingham Forest in midweek, there has been one common denominator. Since the turn of the year, all of Rashfords goals have been followed by the same celebration, one that had not been seen before this spurt of unstoppable form. You know how it goes. He runs to one of the corner flags, stands still, perhaps closes his eyes, but always points his index finger to his temple.
Its first outing was after his winner away to
Wolverhampton Wanderers on New Years Eve, the same day that he had been left out of the starting line-up by Erik ten Hag as
punishment for sleeping in and turning up late for a meeting. It has followed every goal that Rashford has scored since, from the late strikes against
Bournemouth and
Everton, then twice in quick succession against
Charlton Athletic and after his winner in the Manchester derby.
Like Alan Shearers raised hand, Gareth Bales heart and
Cristiano Ronaldos siu, it is becoming a trademark. The only question is: what is the reasoning behind it? Rashford wants to keep its full meaning under wraps, preferring to keep people guessing, to the extent that he has even kept his cards close to his chest when asked about the celebration by Uniteds in-house media team. Those who have suggested Rashford copied
Aurelien Tchouamenis similar celebration after his goal against
England in Qatar are eagle-eyed but wrong.
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