Marcus Rashford is among many Premier League talents to have arrived at St George’s Park ahead of England’s latest Euro 2024 qualifiers and has given his two cents on Manchester City’s remarkable treble season.
The Manchester United star has a stellar campaign of his own, registering a career-high of 30 goals and 11 assists in all competitions, as well as winning a first piece of silverware in six years with the Reds following their EFL Cup victory.
However, having missed out on the FA Cup in the first-ever Manchester Derby FA Cup final — a game that could have stopped City in their tracks on the way to matching United’s 1999 treble — Rashford and co. were obviously left disappointed and no one wants to see their rivals win every trophy possible.
Being asked by reporters about his feeling towards their achievement upon arriving at England camp, the 25-year-old insisted that while it was obviously “not nice” to see Pep Guardiola‘s side win even more, it is only serving as further motivation for his teammates and the rest of the Premier League.
Marcus Rashford has admitted that seeing the Manchester City Treble celebrations was "not nice", but that it has given him extra motivation to close the gap next season 🔴pic.twitter.com/1CxuVLJYZG
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) June 14, 2023
Rashford says City winning the treble is the push others need to challenge next season.
As you can see, the Man United number 10 and England international couldn’t help but admit that it stung to see the other half of Manchester not only have their best-ever season but match United’s incredible feat of winning all three major trophies available.
“To be honest, it’s not nice but at the same time it’s football”, he said, noting that it’s inevitable that “the best team that’s consistently playing the best football is going to win the most trophies. Well done to them”.
On the other hand, Rashford insists that Erik ten Hag‘s squad aren’t sitting and sulking and have already accepted that they just need to “move on”, adding that not only is it “up to [City] to keep it up, [but] it’s up to the rest of us to try and catch them up.”
Clearly hinting that fires are already in their bellies ahead of the restart in August, Rashford was asked if their neighbours’ achievement has given United the motivation they need, to which he simply responded: “Yeah, 100%”.
While it might have been a bitter pill to swallow watching what were once just the ‘noisy neighbours’ match their team’s greatest-ever achievement, Reds will no doubt be pleased with ten Hag’s first season and the progress made so far.
Meanwhile, England face-off against Malta away this Friday and then play North Macedonia back here at Old Trafford on Monday, 19 June and it’s safe to say the City who haven’t been called up for international duty probably still have a few days of partying left in them.
Featured Image — Beanyman Sports (via YouTube)/Man City (via Twitter)/Marcus Rashford (via IG)
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Everton are reportedly already hoping to sign Jack Grealish from Manchester City permanently
Danny Jones
Everton FC are reportedly already considering signing Jack Grealish on a permanent deal after an impressive start to his spell on loan from Manchester City.
The former Aston Villa talisman has struggled to remain in the starting XI under Pep Guardiola since joining the club in 2021, but since arriving on Merseyside, he’s already been a difference-maker in every match for the Toffees thus far.
Grealish has not only registered four assists in just two starts for Everton but also won the very first player of the month award in the Premier League this season for his contributions.
Safe to say he’s fast made a big impact over in Liverpool – hence why it is now thought that manager David Moyes wants to make his transfer permanent.
Becoming just the 10th Toffee to ever win the accolade, the Birmingham-born creator is now thought to be the primary transfer target, despite the summer window having only recently closed.
He writes that despite the deal between Everton and Man City already including a £50 million option to buy next summer, that number is “not fixed and is more a consequence of accounting than a set price.”
The England international still has two years on his contract in the blue half of Manchester, but the previous valuation (which is half the amount City paid for him in a then record fee for a British player), so it is believed that he could be signed for an even better cut-price offer as his deal runs down.
Put it this way, it looks like the supporters would do just about anything to keep him at the Hill Dickinson.
Jack Grealish giving his shirt to an Everton fan after their brilliant win away at Wolves today.
Bascombe goes on to explain, however, that his salary considerations could be a significant obstacle. Grealish is estimated to be earning approximately £12m a year, which is almost certainly too rich for Everton’s blood.
Taking that into account, it’d be a case of whether or not the Brummy forward would be willing to accept a much lower wage to depart the Etihad Stadium for Everton long-term; alternatively, waiting for him to become a free agent in a few transfer windows’ time would also be an option.
What about you, Blues: would you like to see Jack Grealish stay and fight for his place under Guardiola, or would you understand/support him making his Everton permanent?
Interestingly, there could be yet more shuffling of the pack in the middle of the park for Pep, as a forgotten man is apparently going to be given another chance to revive his City career…
Kalvin Phillips is reportedly set to be reintegrated into the Manchester City squad
Danny Jones
Long-exiled Manchester City player Kalvin Phillips is reportedly on the verge of being reintegrated into Pep Guardiola’s squad this season.
The ex-Leeds United star, who signed for the Blues back in 2022, has still only made just 16 appearances for the club, but could now be eyeing up a potential renaissance.
Man City have made plenty of signings this year, but with a number of outgoings and several injuries in key positions, it looks like there could be an avenue for the one-time England international to fight his way back into the team.
As per Telegraph Sport‘s Mike McGrath, Kalvin Phillips is set to be reintroduced to City’s 25-man Premier League selection; the question is, can he make it into a first-team XI?
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Kalvin Phillips has chance to resurrect career at the Etihad Stadium after failed loan spells with Ipswich and West Ham
According to McGrath, Phillips will be “given a chance to resurrect his career at the Etihad Stadium” with the meat and potatoes of the 2025/26 campaign still yet to get properly underway.
Now 29, the Yorkshireman is well and truly within the crucial ‘prime’ years as an athlete, and after such an extended period on the sidelines, he’ll be more motivated than anyone to get his career back on track.
The central defensive midfielder – who was formerly considered a key cog in the middle of the park for Leeds – has spent two loan spells away from the Etihad, but neither really worked out for the undeniably talented footballer.
Having joined West Ham for the latter portion of the 23/24 term and spending the last 12 months on loan at struggling Ipswich Town, his time at both clubs was pretty forgettable, punctuated by little more than a couple of unfortunate red cards and more time on the bench.
Speaking to Sky Sports fairly recently, he confessed that the last couple of years have been very difficult and was visibly emotional discussing his struggles since moving to Man City.
It’s also worth noting that Guardiola himself has admitted to feeling “so bad” for Kalvin Phillips’ situation – perhaps why he now looks like he could be given a second chance.
CDM-wise, Rodri and Nico González are considered the go-to options, but Stockport-born Rico Lewis and Mateo Kovačić have also been used in the role.
Once again, although Man City face somewhat of an injury crisis ahead of the Manchester derby this weekend, any prolonged absences could at least see an opportunity arise for the forgotten man.
What do you make of Kalvin Phillips’ chances of being restored to the Manchester City squad and maybe even putting himself back into national team contention ahead of the World Cup?
Danny Jones -
14th June 2023 
