ERIK TEN HAG is backing Marcus Rashford to be the first Manchester United star to smash the 30-goal barrier in TEN YEARS.
Rashford’s Europa League winner against Real Betis on Thursday night took his season tally to a personal best 27.
Marcus Rashford has hit 30 goals for club and country this season and needs three more to reach the same landmark for just UnitedAlamy
Robin van Persie was the last United player to score 30 goals in all competitions in the 2012-13 season but Ten Hag says he saw Rashford’s goalscoring potential when he took over.
Ten Hag said: “I said it in the summer, when you asked if I believe in Rashford or (Anthony) Martial, one of them, could score 20-plus goals and I said, ‘yes I believe it’.
“He has progressed during the season. Marcus was also not in the best shape when he started the season.
“But the way of playing gives him a base, then he brings his skills in and his attitude and mentality and that is bringing him a lot of progress.
“That gives the team a lot of joy and gives him a lot of goals and us a lot of wins.”
United host Fulham in tomorrow’s FA Cup quarter-final and Ten Hag says last month’s Carabao Cup final win over Newcastle handed his cup treble-chasing stars an incentive for a return to Wembley.
The Dutchman said: “It is huge motivation. We all enjoyed Wembley and winning a trophy.
“That has to be the fuel for the next one — to get pushed by that idea and that has to bring extra energy to beat Fulham.
BETTING SPECIAL – BEST FOOTBALL BETTING SITES IN THE UK
“We have to set a winning culture — we are Manchester United. We have to win all the games, we have to compete. That has to be the mentality.”
United face Cottagers midfielder Andreas Pereira, who left Old Trafford last summer.
Ten Hag said: “I have known him a long time. I had him in the youth team of PSV before he transferred to Man United.
“He didn’t do it over several years at Man United and there comes a point you have to make a step maybe back to make a step in the future.”