When Marcus Rashford smashed in a goal of a lifetime, many Manchester United fans started to believe that something could happen in their derby showdown against Manchester City.
But it was another Manchester-born player, Phil Foden, stealing the headlines with his brace as Pep Guardiola’s side ended up recording a 3-1 win.
For Manchester City’s equalising goal, there were cries from the away side that Marcus Rashford was fouled in the build-up by Kyle Walker.
Michael Owen disagreed with those pleas and he doesn’t think it was a foul, but he also thinks the £300k-a-week star might have been at fault for Phil Foden’s first goal, as he told Premier League Productions (03/03/24 at 5:45 pm).
The former striker noted how, Marcus Rashford was ‘lying on the ground’ and taking an age to get up, before watching his England teammate curl his effort into the top corner.
Instead, he felt that the Manchester United man should have been much deeper, in his own defensive third, and possibly stopping Phil Foden from getting the ball and then cutting onto his left foot.
Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden
“I thought it was correct that nothing was given,” said Owen. “I don’t know why Marcus Rashford was running across his man to start with. He wasn’t even in control of the ball. The ball is going away from him, surely you have to control the ball and then cut across your man.
“If felt to me, and the referee and to most people, I don’t think there was anything in it.
“Actually, he would have been back in this position (In his own half in the defensive third) and potentially to cut that ball out (before Foden’s goal). He has been lying on the ground for a minute or so.
“If he was back in, then his position is actually third (Man United’s own defensive third) if he wasn’t lying on the floor. He might have been able to prevent that goal and stopping it at source. I didn’t think it was a foul.”
Manchester City steal the bragging rights again
It’s what everyone expected and it’s what happened. That is three points closer to the title for Guardiola and his players, whilst it’s more misery for his opposite number.
Whilst Man City push for another possible Treble, their neighbours might not even make Europe, at this rate.
Those back-to-back defeats now mean fourth-placed Aston Villa are 11 points clear of sixth-placed Man United.
Six points separate Wolves in tenth and the Old Traffrord-based club, which should become a big worry because they might now be caught.
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