Izuchukwu OkosiManchester United’s Marcus Rashford has admitted that mental struggles last season were a key factor in his lack of form in the 2021/2022 season which saw United finish in 6th place.
The forward endured a difficult campaign after scoring just five goals in 32 appearances as he struggled for consistency in his performances.
Rashford on Sunday scored his 100th Premier League goal against the Irons to join an elite team of United stars including Dennis Law who was at the stadium to witness the game.
Some media speculation suggested that Rashford could have been allowed to leave the club in January and the summer transfer windows, but following Erik ten Hag’s appointment, things have significantly improved.
This season Rashford has already beaten last season’s tally with seven goals already to his name, as well as providing three assists after establishing himself as a regular starter under Ten Hag.
Speaking to Sky Sports in the aftermath of his goal against West Ham United on Sunday, Rashford said: “It’s a complete different energy around the club an the training ground.
“That puts me in a better headspace and I just feel really motivated now. That’s the area I was struggling in.
“I was struggling at times with more mental things. It wasn’t really my own performance but other things off the pitch. That’s the biggest difference from last season.
Rashford hinted that he was not able to speak up about his challenges before now.
“I get that it’s your job to speak about what happens on the pitch but for the players we have to get into the right headspace for every game.
“Too often last season, I wasn’t in the right headspace for games. I wasn’t surprised by some of the stuff that was happening.”
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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