Marcus Rashford admits that he considered leaving Manchester United last year, before Erik ten Hag helped turn his career around at Old Trafford.
The forward had a forgettable 2021-22 season, scoring just five goals in 32 appearances across all competitions as United struggled under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick.
His future looked uncertain as he appeared to be a shadow of the player of seasons past, but he burst back into life under the Dutchman over the last campaign.
The 25-year-old scored 30 goals in all competitions, netting 17 in the Premier League and looked back to his dangerous best, although things could have been very different.
Asked if he had thought about leaving the Red Devils, Rashford told the Guardian: ‘Before the manager came maybe a little bit, but it’s football, it happens.
‘Everything is going to happen for a reason and he came to the club at the right time for me, the timing worked out.’
Rashford has praised Ten Hag’s impact since arriving from Ajax, saying he has offered the players more freedom and enjoyment than the previous regimes.
On how the Dutchman has improved things, the England forward said: ‘Freedom – we were just a little bit rigid in the past, sometimes you’re not enjoying your football and that was the case with me – I wasn’t enjoying my football as much as I should be, as much I was used to enjoying it.
‘Because of that it influenced my performance and ultimately that’s how I am as a person, if I’m not happy then it’s difficult for me to play my best football.
‘Just a little bit more freedom and a little bit more stability – that gives you the baseline to try and showcase your abilities. I enjoy scoring goals, making assists, playing in the forward areas and trying to cause a threat to the other team.’
