Gary Nevile has explained why Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may leave Marcus Rashford on the bench for Manchester United’s biggest game of the season.
The Red Devils face Villarreal in the Europa League final next week and Solskjaer is facing selection dilemmas in defence and attack ahead of the clash with the Spanish club.
While Rashford has scored 21 goals this season, including eight in European competitions, he has only netted three times in his last 17 games and was benched for Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Fulham.
There is fierce competition for spots in the starting XI at present, with Paul Pogba frequently lining up on the left and Mason Greenwood on the right to support Bruno Fernandes and Edinson Cavani.
And Old Trafford legend Neville simply cannot see where Rashford fits into the team for the showdown in Gdansk.
“I wonder whether this could actually be Man Utd’s Europa League final team. It wouldn’t surprise me,” Neville told Sky Sports while covering United versus Fulham.
“Rashford on the right doesn’t work and I think Pogba will play. I think Cavani will play up top, I think the midfield three is set.
“And I wonder if Solskjaer has decided that (Axel) Tuanzebe will play in that Harry Maguire position.
“I’m nervous about Rashford being left out but I think Greenwood is better there than Rashford. The balance is better. And I think (David) De Gea will start in goal. You think about the service he’s given to the club.”
Neville’s remark about “balance” refers to having a left-footed player on the right wing in Greenwood.
The 19-year-old has made that spot his own in recent weeks with six goals in his last eight Premier League appearances.
Right-footed Rashford, meanwhile, is best when cutting in from the left flank but Solskjaer has regularly deployed Pogba in that position over the course of the season.
This means Rashford, who is widely considered to be one of the Red Devils’ best players, may miss out on a starting role in the interests of control and balance against Unai Emery’s Villarreal.
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