Marcus Rashford thinks he's an easy target - but the opposite is true

Roy Keane is a good man to listen to about discipline and indeed success at Manchester United. He has seen both sides of both. But recently when the former United captain described Marcus Rashford as an easy target for criticism he was wrong.

Rashford, the United forward, is not an easy target, he is the opposite. Whether you are a supporter, his manager or just a member of the media, it’s actually quite a big deal to criticize Rashford because of his standing at the club, his status as an academy player with a warm back story and, of course, because of all the work he did for schoolchildren during the Covic pandemic.

So the reality is that if you are going to come for Rashford then you had better have good reason and you had better not miss. And even if you don’t, then you should still be ready for a backlash.

Rashford, though, does not see things this way. Indeed, he would appear to be on the same side of this debate as Keane. Rashford, rightly or wrongly, currently appears to believe he’s being victimised.

According to a raw, passionate and rather heartfelt piece published in his name on the Players’ Tribute platform on Thursday, Rashford believes that people have it in him for him.

Despite his recent poor form and a disciplinary issue that caused him to miss a big game in the FA Cup, Rashford feels he is being treated differently. Because of his colour? Because of his background? He doesn’t say. But he feels it regardless

‘There is a tone to it that you don’t get with all footballers,’ Rashford said yesterday. ‘Let’s just leave it at that.’

This is an interesting tactic by the 26-year-old. His delicately written polemic reads a little like a plea for love, for understanding. It’s clearly from the heart and he has every