Marcus Rashford: Manchester United's Key to Success in Europe and Beyond

Marcus Rashford's spectacular form has lifted Manchester United to the top of their game, keeping them in contention for trophies across four competitions. The star player's performances have been key to the Red Devils' success this season, with a League Cup final against Newcastle on the horizon and a heavyweight Europa League clash with Barcelona coming up first.

Following a thrilling first leg at the Camp Nou, which ended with the sides level at 2-2, Rashford has continued his brilliant form on the European stage. He was responsible for turning a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead for United in Catalonia in just seven minutes, with a stunning near-post finish and a drilled cross that forced Jules Kounde to score an own goal.

His goal-scoring prowess was on display again in United's recent 3-0 win over Leicester, which pulled them into Premier League title contention. Rashford's tally for the season now stands at an already career-best 24 goals, with 16 goals and four assists since returning from Qatar. In fact, no player in Europe's top five leagues comes close to the 25-year-old's 20 goal involvements.

Rashford's current form is all the more impressive considering his struggles for fitness and form last season, which came after he missed a penalty in England's Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy. He has stepped out from Cristiano Ronaldo's shadow to become the player that United fans always hoped he could be after bursting onto the scene as a fresh-faced teenager in 2016.

However, the pressure is on Rashford to maintain his remarkable scoring streak, particularly as he has been an ever-present in United's busy schedule since the World Cup. There are signs of fatigue, as seen in United's draw against Barcelona at the Camp Nou last week. Nevertheless, manager Erik ten Hag is counting on the "Theatre of Dreams" crowd to will his side over the line in what would be their biggest European scalp since Rashford's penalty knocked out Paris Saint-Germain from the Champions League in 2019.