Manchester United star Marcus Rashford has revealed that Erik ten Hag’s latest pre-season is “one of the toughest” he’s ever been through, describing it as both physically and mentally challenging.
The Man United no.10 had his best statistical season ever last year, managing his highest-ever goal tally with 30 across all competitions, registering 11 assists and emerging as an even greater talisman in Erik ten Hag‘s team than under any previous manager.
Speaking to Gary Neville on the latest of The Overlap, the 25-year-old gave an in-depth interview on everything from what he’s learned from his previous coaches and what parts of his game he’s working on, to hunting down Wayne Rooney‘s goalscoring record, how his family have helped him and more.
He also touched on the impact ten Hag has had on him and the rest of the squad so far, describing this most recent pre-season as “one of the toughest I’ve ever had”.
Rashford speaking candidly and confidently on the latest episode of The Overlap, in partnership with Sky Bet.
Chatting with the former defender last month, Rashford said: “Erik’s pre-season is one of the toughest, running wise but we also do a lot of passing drills and it’s a lot of mental concentration and when you’re already physically tired, it’s difficult to concentrate for long periods of time.”
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The lightning-fast forward said that in addition to lots of ball work, the squad regularly do “20–30-minute technical sessions” before breaking into “eight or 10 blocks of box to boxes or shorter intensity runs” and then going back into the technical work.
He went on to add that part of the challenge has been carrying out these sessions in the “heat of the places that [they’re] training in”, but insisted that he feels in good shape as the pre-season is drawing towards an end.
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In fact, Rashford is feeling so confident — something he says has been restored throughout the team, reminding them that they “wouldn’t be here if [they] weren’t good players” — that he believes he could push as far as “35 or 40 goals”. Reds will just have to hope he doesn’t pick up any more injuries and can kick on even further this season, no doubt having already been lofted by his new contract.
Fitness was another aspect that the Wythenhsawe winger touched upon, describing his shoulder surgery back in 2021 as the “lowest point” in his career, and while the England international has struggled with a number of injury problems over the past few seasons, it seems his hard work and determination is paying off.
As he sees it, “If I don’t do these things [pre-season training camps], maybe you start the season and don’t feel that you’re up to scratch and I don’t want to be in that position”. As well as working on his left foot and his heading ability, Rashy is also eyeing up longevity and says he wants to play until he’s 37.
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One thing United fans will be pleased to hear is how the former Ajax coach has helped improve the chemistry amongst the squad too, stating that he’s “really concentrated on making everyone together as one”, whether they’re in the starting 11 or not.
You can Marcus Rashford’s Overlap interview with Gary Neville in full down below:
Rashford on ten Hag’s testing pre-season, wanting to start for England, a potential future in coaching and more.
Featured Image — Sky Bet/The Overlap (via YouTube)/Marcus Rashford/ Man United (via IG)
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Luxury Manchester gym Blok confirms permanent closure after weeks of uncertainty
Daisy Jackson
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure, weeks after the doors to the premium fitness facility mysteriously closed.
Around a fortnight ago, members began to arrive to their classes to find the gym on Ducie Street locked up and a forfeiture notice on the door – but at the time, Blok said that it was fighting to reopen.
Sadly, in an email sent to members today, its founder has confirmed that the studio is now permanently closed.
Blok – which has several very successful sites down in London – said that its relationship with its landlord has ‘broken down to a point where trust has been lost’.
The gym wrote that it’s been left with ‘no workable way forward’.
They said: “BLOK Manchester was a space built by our loyal and dedicated community. Whether you joined us for one class or one hundred, we are deeply grateful. You helped create something genuinely special in an incredible city.”
In the immediate future, they said they’ll be supporting the team of fantastic trainers who worked here, as well as looking after members.
Members will be contacted within a few hours with options and refunds owed.
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure. Credit: The Manc Group
CEO and founder Ed Stanbury said: “While this marks the end of a chapter, we don’t see it as the end of our story in Manchester. We’re already speaking with developers about potential future sites and remain committed to returning to the city when the time is right.
“Thank you for being part of our story so far. Let’s shape the future of wellness. The mission continues.”
Commenting on Blok’s Instagram post – its first in almost a fortnight – people have been sharing their sadness at the closure of its Manchester site.
One person wrote: “beautiful space, beautiful staff and beautiful community.”
Another said: “Sending love to all the instructors !! :(((( gutted”
Someone else commented: “THE BEST CLASSES. I’m gutted.”
Manchester City plotting spending spree ‘before’ Club World Cup
Danny Jones
Manchester City are set to embark on somewhat of a spending spree this summer transfer window as the club’s higher-ups are looking to get business done before the 2025 Club World Cup.
With FIFA’s intercontinental club competition set to get underway in mid-June, the Blues don’t have too long to welcome in new players, but Man City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has reiterated their urgency regarding recruitment.
Despite having brought in four new acquisitions in a very short space of time last season, the 50-year-old argued that he wasn’t completely happy with the extent and speed of their business.
Giving a lengthy interview this week, CFG‘s founding chairman has imposed an internal deadline ahead of the lucrative knockout competition.
Speaking with club media, Khaldoon recognised that while there were incomings in January of this year, he believes they “should have been more aggressive in some of the changes we needed to do, adding that he believes it “cost [them].”
“I can tell you today, we have clearly identified who exactly [the targets are], in what positions, and we have our clear number one option, our clear number two option”, he continues.
More importantly, he goes on to add: “We’ll go about our business, and it will be very clear, very swift. Our objective is to try to be ready with the new squad for the Club World Cup.”
He also suggested the flurry of activity this past January was not just atypical of the administration, but felt the squad fell into a crisis state with the number of injuries, insisting they “had to act.”
City have already been linked with a hugely talented and highly-rated European target in the wake of Kevin De Bruyne‘s departure and a lack of strength in depth in midfield.
An initial bid is said to have been received already and will likely be the first of many City summer signings.
He also insisted that the players who joined last season weren’t scattershot, emergency transfers (perhaps barring the resigning of İlkay Gündoğan) but were the start of the rebuild and “gives [fans] an idea of what’s coming this summer.”
Another player linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium is Lyon star Rayan Cherki, who scored in big moments during their Europa League run this year, registering 32 goal contributions across all competitions throughout the 24/25 campaign.
Who would you like to see added to Pep Guardiola’s side this summer, then, Man City fans?
You can watch Khaldoon Al Mubarak’s interview in full down below:
Danny Jones -
3rd August 2023 
