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Rashford is in good form for Barcelona. |
Although the Catalan team just suffered a 1-4 defeat to Sevilla in round 7 of La Liga on October 5, the English striker was still a rare bright spot - and continued to send a strong message: Rashford is back, and he wants to reclaim his place in the England team.
Rashford returns with a "truly dangerous" version
From being doubted and considered an “out of sync” signing by Barcelona, Rashford is transforming dramatically. Including the goal against Sevilla, he has had a hand in 8 goals (4 goals, 4 assists) in just over a month - spread across all arenas, from La Liga to the Champions League and the England team.
Against PSG in the League Phase, Champions League, although Barcelona lost 1-2, Rashford still received a score of 7.5 - the highest in the team according to Football-Espana . In the match against Sevilla, he continued to receive a score of 7.01 from WhoScored , and notably: in the last 4 matches, Rashford has scored above 7. That is a stable streak that even in his most brilliant period at Manchester United, he rarely maintained.
Gone are the sluggish runs, gone are the blank stares after each missed shot. Rashford is a different player at Barcelona: sharp, quick and confident. His trademark bursts from the left, cuts inside and finishes are back with regularity – as if the shadow of Old Trafford has been left behind.
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Rashford has scored his first goal for Barcelona in La Liga 2025/26 season. |
If you look at the scoreline, you might forget that Barcelona lost, but Rashford still played his role - the difference maker in a team in disarray. Since the start of the season, Rashford has averaged 1.2 shots on target per game, 2.1 successful dribbles and 1.8 chances created per 90 minutes - figures that far exceed his own in his final season at United (0.8-1, 2-1.1). For England, he also scored and assisted in two consecutive games in September.
Those numbers help explain why coach Thomas Tuchel - who has just succeeded Gareth Southgate - cannot ignore. Recently, Rashford continued to be called back to the "Three Lions". And that, unintentionally, left Jack Grealish behind once again.
Grealish is still good, but not enough
Grealish is actually reviving his Everton career. His injury-time goal helped the Merseyside team beat Crystal Palace 2-1 last weekend. However, when put on the scale, Grealish's form and effectiveness still cannot be compared to Rashford's.
In the Premier League, the former Aston Villa man has just one goal and four assists – encouraging numbers, but not enough to compete in a context where England are “over-abundant” in wingers. From Rashford at Barcelona, to Anthony Gordon on the rise at Newcastle, or Eberechi Eze at Arsenal, all are playing at a higher level in terms of fitness, speed and final decision-making ability.
If Rashford can maintain this form – averaging a goal or assist per game – he will not only regain his place but also force Grealish to wait a long time for a return to the national team.
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Jack Grealish is also reviving his form for Everton. |
In Tuchel’s favoured 4-3-3, the left-forward position is reserved for the difference-maker – someone who can both accelerate and finish off opponents on his own. Rashford, at his best, is the rare player who can do both.
He is recalling his peak in 2022/23 at MU, when he scored 30 goals in all competitions. And in Barcelona, where Rashford has been given more freedom in his movements, he is showing a more mature, calmer but still as sharp as before.
Meanwhile, Grealish is still a player with great technique and intelligence in ball control, but has not reached the level of “match-deciding efficiency” that Rashford is showing. National football is not a place to “wait for form”, but to select players who are ready to shine immediately - and at present, Rashford meets that perfectly.
Rashford is not just scoring goals again. He is making his name in the race for a place in the 2026 World Cup with his unmissable form. Grealish, while trying to revive himself at Everton, still needs more time to prove he deserves to return to the elite ranks of the "Three Lions".
If Rashford keeps “playing like this”, the story is simple: Grealish will have to wait - and wait a long time.
Source: https://znews.vn/rashford-da-the-nay-grealish-kho-vao-tuyen-anh-post1591208.html
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