Dwight Yorke | Manchester United | Marcus Rashford | Benjamin Sesko | Michael Carrick | Amad Diallo | Arsenal
Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports , Manchester United legend Dwight Yorke has urged Michael Carrick to take a personal gamble on reviving Marcus Rashford 's Old Trafford career.
The former Aston Villa star has explained why Rashford remains the most gifted player in the squad, why Benjamin Sesko must be left to master the number nine role, and what United must learn from Arsenal about impact substitutes.
Yorke has also delivered his verdict on Patrick Dorgu and Amad Diallo , and set out how Manchester United can finally close the gap on the top of the Premier League .
Closing the Gap
What Must United Do to Close the Gap on Arsenal?
When I played for Manchester United , there were always squad players who were happy to be there and part of the squad, but you want players who are hungry enough to make sure that they want to be better than the rest and get into your team. The one thing that you should always have as a manager are players who can come in and out without altering your team too much when you make changes. If your number one player isn't fit or they're a little bit off form, the next player that comes in cannot change the team. You don't want them to alter how you play to go out there and win football matches. That's the X-factor of the manager. That's what you've got to be able to instil into your team, but you need to have the players to do that.
If you're not good enough to do that, and you're not getting the game time, you're not improving the team, and that's the reason why you're not playing, because your manager has looked at you and not seen what he needs to see. There's players who come off the bench to make an impact and make a difference to the team. That's what Arsenal were able to do last season. They had players coming on and coming off, and understanding when they got on the pitch, the plan didn't change. The team was not altered. If anything, the team kicked on when the subs came on because there was this fresh impetus from the players coming on to make a difference.
That's how the game has gone. Substitutes have such an influence on the game that you've got to have five or six players that you can bring off the bench to make a difference.
Marcus Rashford
Does Dorgu's Ceiling Make Rashford's Return Unnecessary?
I think Patrick Dorgu is an alright player. He's growing into becoming a proper Manchester United player, and he's getting better. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt going into the new season, but listen, I'm a Marcus Rashford fan. I just don't know where his head is at. That's his problem. He's 28 years of age. This should be his peak. He won't be in a better position in terms of his age and football education again. He's done it all. He's grown up. He should be a proper, seasoned player now. Even now, do you know who would be the best, most skilful player in this Manchester United squad? It'd be Marcus Rashford . Why would you not want your most skilful, dangerous player to be part of your setup when you're going out there to try and win the Premier League ?
Now I know not everyone will agree, but if I was Carrick , the first person I would be going to see to have a conversation is Marcus Rashford . You're the manager. You figure it out with him. You make the decisions. You're not there to please people. Don't listen to people on the outside. It's easy to get influenced by pundits. When you get the sack, none of them will be coming to your rescue. Managers always get sacked. In my time as a manager, I have learned that if you're going to get sacked, get sacked doing it your way. Do not get caught up in the outside noise telling you what to do. Do what you think is right. You've got the football knowledge. You've been there as a player. You understand it. Have that conversation with the individual.
Bringing Marcus Rashford back into the fold is a gamble, but it's a case of risk and reward. Take the risk, it works out, and Carrick is the best manager ever. People will be asking themselves, how did he get Rashford back to his best and playing for United ? If it goes the other way, then you've got egg on your face. That's just how it is.
I would go to Rashford at his home, have a conversation with him, and see where his mind is because a fit and flying Rashford at 28 years of age is the kind of player that wins you Premier League titles. The only question is whether Rashford has the stomach to come back to England , take on the doubters and the haters, and prove to himself, not to them, that he is the player we know he can be, because for me his talent has never been in doubt. It's all about his mindset, his attitude, what's in his head.
He's undoubtedly the most gifted player in the squad, but does he want to come back and fight and show that determination to be the best, to be the number one player at the club again? It's down to him. None of us can say or do anything for Rashford . He must want to do it himself. But you could have a really good conversation to get an insight into where he is, and if Carrick can bring home Rashford to play at his free-flowing best, enjoying his football and living the best moments of his life as a footballer, he could be unstoppable. That's what I'd want if I was Carrick . Get rid of all the other noises and get him producing his best football for Manchester United .
Don't forget we've got our little kid out on the wings, too, Amad Diallo . He is a proper little player, by the way. Sometimes I think everybody gets lost talking about all these players you can sign. Amad can really play. He can be one of United 's best wide players, and they all want to play regularly.
Benjamin Sesko
Has Sesko Shown Enough to Start Every Game?
He is already solid at running at defenders, pushing defenders back, and the most difficult position to play is up front as a proper number nine, because it's the only position on the pitch where you play with your back to goal. You have to learn the trade of how to play there, and it's not going to happen overnight. You could play Rashford there, and he'd look good for a game or two, but the reason why Alan Shearer , Robbie Fowler , Michael Owen and all the greats of the game were so good at playing up front as the nine is that they didn't play anywhere else.
United can't be playing Sesko down the left or down the right. He needs to play every game he can in his position so he can become an expert in the position. Play the kid as the number nine. Tune that instinct for when to run, when to move, how to move defenders around with your back to goal. It's the only way. Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo are not number nines. If Sesko gets injured, I could understand they can probably step up and play there on occasion, but as Cunha has shown at the World Cup , he's not a number nine. He's clueless when it comes to playing as a nine.
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