Tuchel’s Disappointment in England Stars: Rashford and Foden Under the Spotlight
Marcus Rashford has recently expressed a sense of camaraderie with his former Manchester United team-mates after receiving the news of his recall to the England national squad. The talented forward, who has been on loan at Aston Villa since January, has had a tumultuous time at Old Trafford, leading to a complicated relationship with some of his teammates.
Upon learning about his selection, Rashford was thrilled to receive messages of support from fellow players including Bruno Fernandes, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, and Joshua Zirkzee. This came as a breath of fresh air for Rashford, who had not been part of the England setup since their match against Brazil in March 2024.
After the squad announcement by manager Thomas Tuchel, Rashford shared a photograph of himself donning the England jersey, accompanied by the caption: “Never stop believing. Can’t wait to get started.” In response, Fernandes enthusiastically commented, “Love to see it.” Former United players David de Gea and Aaron Wan-Bissaka also offered their encouragement.
A source close to Rashford revealed, “Marcus has faced a challenging period for several months, if not years, prior to his loan move from United. He is certainly in a better mental space now but does harbor concerns that his two decades at United might be overlooked. He remains deeply attached to the club and was genuinely touched to see both past and present players rallying around him, which made him feel appreciated. That support meant a great deal to him.”
England’s Performance Against Albania: Lewis-Skelly Shines, Tuchel Faces Familiar Challenges
By Tom Barclay
In Thomas Tuchel’s inaugural match, Myles Lewis-Skelly made headlines by becoming the youngest player to score on his debut for the Three Lions, while Harry Kane celebrated yet another milestone with his 70th international goal as England secured a 2-0 victory over Albania in their World Cup qualifying campaign.
Lewis-Skelly, just 18 years old, showcased his talent by netting the opening goal in the 20th minute, courtesy of a brilliant pass from Jude Bellingham. Alongside him in the starting lineup were Rashford and Curtis Jones, with new recruit Dan Burn partnering Ezri Konsa in central defense at Wembley.
However, Tuchel found himself grappling with a challenge that has plagued his predecessor, Gareth Southgate: the integration of Phil Foden into the team. While England initially thrived, they struggled to maintain momentum in the second half until Kane expertly controlled a pass from Declan Rice and skillfully curled in the second goal to seal the match.
Here’s how SunSport’s Tom Barclay rated the Three Lions in Tuchel’s opening encounter…
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Since joining Aston Villa, Rashford has appeared in nine matches, contributing four assists but is yet to find the back of the net. Villa holds a £40 million option to purchase Rashford permanently in the summer, with United reportedly open to a sale.
Reflecting on his move, Marcus Rashford noted that making the switch to Aston Villa was a straightforward decision for him.