Michael Owen: Marcus Rashford Is Man Utd's Weak Link
Michael Owen has called Marcus Rashford the 'weak link' in Manchester United's attack, claiming the 28-year-old "doesn't seem to be loving his football" after six games without a goal contribution. The former striker's comments came after United's Premier League draw with Fulham, where Rashford's body language drew criticism.
- Player: Marcus Rashford, 28, valued at around £34m by Transfermarkt
- Contract: Runs until 2028, with a very high wage at Old Trafford
- Form: No goal contributions in six matches in all tournaments this season
- Key context: Benjamin Sesko and Amad Diallo are out injured
- Pundit: Michael Owen, speaking on Premier League Production via Metro
What was said
"On the left, Marcus Rashford has been probably the quietest of those attackers. He was quiet again today in his body language, just the glum face. He just doesn't seem to be loving his football which has been a permanent frustration with Marcus."
"There's a bit of a demand for Benjamin Sesko to come back in and start, injury permitting of course. But if that happens, Cunha is going to go on the left and Rashford would be the weak link in that attack as things stand."
Owen's criticism is blunt and specific: he is not questioning Rashford's talent, but his demeanour and output. The reference to a "glum face" suggests a player whose confidence has drained, a theme Owen calls a "permanent frustration". That word choice implies this is not a new complaint but a recurring pattern in Rashford's Old Trafford career.
The second quote is the more consequential. Owen is effectively proposing a different front line: if Benjamin Sesko returns from injury, Matheus Cunha shifts to the left and Rashford drops out. This is not a call for rotation; it is a call for demotion based on current form.
The numbers
- 25: Goal contributions Rashford made across all competitions on loan at Barcelona last term
- 0: Goal contributions for Rashford this season across six matches in all tournaments
- £34m: Rashford's Transfermarkt valuation
- 2028: Year his Manchester United contract expires
- 28: Rashford's age
Injury and availability
Manchester United are without Benjamin Sesko and Amad Diallo, both injured. Their absences are the reason Rashford has been "featuring regularly this season", according to the report. Owen's suggested reshuffle — Sesko back in, Cunha to the left — is explicitly contingent on Sesko's fitness: "injury permitting of course".
Why Cunha on the left makes tactical sense
Matheus Cunha helped United finish third last term and scored the equaliser against Fulham on Sunday after being moved to the left flank. That is the evidence Owen leans on. Cunha offers a directness and goal threat that Rashford has not shown this season, and the fact he delivered from the left against Fulham gives the argument immediate weight.
Marcus Rashford remains a versatile forward capable of covering anywhere across the frontline, which the report notes is always beneficial for a coach. That versatility is exactly why he has been playing — United's injuries have forced the issue rather than Rashford earning the spot on merit.
Michael Carrick kept Rashford this summer after Barcelona declined to sign him permanently, despite Rashford's 25 goal contributions at Camp Nou. That decision now looks like a test of Carrick's man-management. If Sesko returns and Cunha moves left, Rashford's role becomes a bench option across the front line — a significant downgrade for a player on a very high wage.
Talking points
- Owen is judging body language as much as output — is that fair analysis or a lazy stick to beat a player who has 25 goal contributions in his last full season?
- Six games without a goal contribution is a small sample. Would dropping Rashford for Cunha be a rational call or a reaction to pundit pressure?
- Rashford's £34m valuation and high wage until 2028 make him hard to sell. Is keeping him as a squad option actually the sensible play?
- Barcelona said no to a permanent deal despite those 25 contributions. What does that tell us about how Europe's elite now view Rashford?
What happens next
Manchester United's next fixture is the immediate test of Owen's argument. If Sesko is fit, Carrick must decide whether to restore him and shift Cunha to the left, which would leave Rashford out. The stakes are clear: Rashford needs a goal contribution to silence the narrative, while Carrick needs a result to justify keeping faith in a player the club reportedly could have moved on this summer.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Michael Owen call Marcus Rashford the weak link?
Owen said Rashford has been the quietest of United's attackers, pointed to his "glum face" body language against Fulham, and claimed Rashford would be the weak link if Benjamin Sesko returns and Matheus Cunha moves to the left.
How many goal contributions has Rashford got this season?
None. Rashford has failed to make any goal contribution in six matches in all tournaments this season.
Is Marcus Rashford leaving Manchester United?
No, and there is no suggestion of that in this report. Rashford is under contract until 2028 and Michael Carrick decided to keep him this summer after Barcelona declined to sign him permanently.
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