Dimitar Berbatov believes Manchester United need to make one key change to help Marcus Rashford regain his lost form
Former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov has offered Erik ten Hag advice which he believes could help Marcus Rashford regain his lost form.
Rashford enjoyed the best season of his career last time out as he scored 30 goals and provided 11 assists in 56 games across all competitions. Things haven't quite worked out for the England international this season though. He has just managed to find the back of the net thrice in 25 games across competitions.
Manchester United legend Dimitar Berbatov reckons that making Rashford the club captain could help the attacker rediscover his lost confidence and form. The former Bulgaria international told The Daily Mail:
"I think that at one point, Ten Hag should give him the armband and say, 'look, I've given you even more responsibility, it's up to you to man up and show me what you might have.'
"That new contract that he signed in the summer [should] give him the confidence to continue and stay at United but at the same time to understand that he's experienced enough, mature enough, that he needs to lead the strikers."
Berbatov has also urged Rashford to get back to scoring ways as soon as possible with the team struggling for goals, adding:
"In his case, something is going on. I don't know what it is - maybe something in his personal life, maybe something in the dressing room, maybe something on the training pitch. Obviously, it's not working as before.
"And he needs to find that answer as soon as possible. If he finds the answer, that can be the answer for the team moving forward to scoring more goals."
Rashford signed a new bumper £300,000 deal with Manchester United until 2028 in the summer and has struggled since. While his form has been on the wane, other Red Devils forwards have also struggled.
United have scored just 22 Premier League goals in 20 games this campaign. Only the bottom two clubs Burnley and Sheffield United have scored less than Erik ten Hag's side.
Dimitar Berbatov predicts the outcome of big game between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur
Dimitar Berbatov has backed Manchester United to come out on top when the Red Devils take on Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Sunday, January 14. The striker, who played for both clubs in his playing career, has predicted a 1-0 win for the Red Devils. He wrote in Metro:
"I can see this being a tight game and I’m going to say it will be 1-0 to United. It sounds boring, but I hope that’s not the case. I think there’s a lot at stake for both teams. That can sometimes play with your mind and make you not produce your best game possible."
Manchester United find themselves eighth in the table with 31 points in 20 games and trail fourth-placed Arsenal by nine points. Tottenham Hotspur, on the other hand, have been rejuvenated under Ange Postecoglou and sit fifth in the table, just one point behind Arsenal.