Aston Villa cruised past Preston North End with a 3-0 victory in the FA Cup quarterfinals, with Marcus Rashford emerging as one of the key figures in securing a ticket to the semifinals. After netting his first two goals for Villa, the English forward reflected on his resurgence and addressed the lack of minutes he experienced under Ruben Amorim at Manchester United.
Rashford‘s first half of the season fell short of expectations, as he struggled to help Manchester United regain form. Things took a turn for the worse following Amorim’s arrival, with the forward falling out of favor and being sidelined. Now thriving at Villa Park, Rashford contrasted his past struggles with his current form:
“It’s a great feeling, I feel like I’ve been getting fitter and playing better soccer since I’ve been here. It’s obviously nice for a forward to get a goal so hopefully it continues,” Rashford told the BBC after the match. He also commented on the team’s ambitions, with Villa still in contention for the FA Cup, UEFA Champions League qualification, and a top-four Premier League finish:
“I think we have to just take it one game at a time and give it 100 per cent on the pitch and see where it takes us. We’re a very ambitious team – we want to win and try and get as far as we can in all competitions and we also want to push to get back into the top four.”
When asked about his fitness, Rashford didn’t shy away from acknowledging the difference in playing time under Amorim: “Step by step. I think I can still get fitter. I missed a lot of soccer before joining up with them. At the minute my body feels good, I’m injury-free and I’m enjoying my soccer, so all good for now.”
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Rashford’s move to Aston Villa appears to have worked out for everyone involved. Amorim has begun solidifying his philosophy at United, with the Red Devils reaching the UEFA Europa League quarterfinals, while Rashford is enjoying regular minutes and a fresh start at a competitive club.
Rashford’s resurgence at Aston Villa
Having fallen out of favor at Old Trafford, Rashford is now finding his rhythm again in Birmingham. His influence on the pitch has grown, and his performances have not gone unnoticed by national team selectors.
Since joining in February 2025, Rashford has featured in 10 matches for Villa, scoring two goals and providing four assists — earning a regular place in Unai Emery’s starting XI. His strong form also earned him a recall to the England national team by head coach Thomas Tuchel, ending a year-long absence and further highlighting his return to form.
