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Marcus Rashford reacts to Manchester City’s treble and says ‘it’s up to us to catch them’
It might be an international focus for the next week or so, but it's still very much all eyes on hitting the ground running next season.
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.
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%”.
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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.
As for Rashford himself, he also earned the ‘Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year’, and ‘Players’ Player of the Year’ of the Year awards this season and will no doubt be looking to kick on in 2023/24.
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.
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Featured Image — Beanyman Sports (via YouTube)/Man City (via Twitter)/Marcus Rashford (via IG)
Sport
Man City stars Phil Foden and Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw win 2024 FWA Footballer of the Year awards
Danny Jones
Manchester City stars Phil Foden and Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw have made it another double for the Blues after picking up the men’s and women’s awards for the 2024 Footballer of the Year from the Football Writers’ Association (FWA).
The Man City forwards have arguably been the players of the season for their respective teams this year, with Foden enjoying the best statistical campaign of his career so far and ‘Bunny’ Shaw becoming the club’s record goalscorer back in March, surpassing women’s legend and Lioness Georgia Stanway.
With nearly 60 goal contributions across all competitions between the two of them and both sides looking very likely to lift the Premier League and WSL titles this month, it’s been an impressive performance both individually and as a team.
We reckon these won’t be the only awards they end up with this year.
Pipping one of the best players in the league to the post this year in the shape of Chelsea and England star Lauren James, the 27-year-old Jamaican striker told the FWA and the club: “I am very proud and privileged to have received this award and to be recognised in this way is a special honour.
“I want to also thank all of my team-mates. They provide me with the chances to score goals and I could not have won this award without them. I also owe such a lot to Gareth [Taylor, head coach], the rest of the coaching team and everyone else here at City.
It’s a pleasure to be part of such a special group. Many thanks to all who voted for me and to my fellow nominees. It means such a lot to have won this award. Hopefully, the side can now finish off the season in style and give everyone a special cause to celebrate.” Shaw is now recovering from surgery on a broken foot sustained against West Ham.
This is actually the second time that the club have mopped up both the men’s and women’s FWA awards, with Raheem Sterling and Nikita Parris achieving the same feat back in 2019.
Manager Pep Guardiola has once again been full of praise for his in-form forward ahead of Saturday’s league fixture against Wolves.
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As for first-team talisman and England favourite himself, Foden added: “Being named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year is a huge honour. I’m very, very happy to receive this award but I could not have done it without the help of my teammates.
“We have a very special squad of players at City, and I’m privileged to be a part of that group.” With two PFA Young Player of the Year awards to his name in 20/21 and 21/22 as well, the ‘Stockport Iniesta’ is no stranger to receiving this kind of recognition but this is undoubtedly his biggest nod yet.
The 23-year-old Foden won 42% of the members’ votes and is the fourth City player to pick up the award in four years, with Erling Haaland obviously storming the race last season. That being said, 2023/24 has well and truly been the year of Phil Foden.
Congratulations to both players on their very well-earned accolades and we’re keeping our eyes peeled on both of them ahead of a big summer for international football.
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Featured Images — Bunny Shaw/Manchester City (via Instagram)
Sport
Manchester City reveals details around the first Andy’s Man Club sessions at the Etihad Stadium
Danny Jones
Manchester City have released the first details surrounding their inaugural Andy’s Man Club sessions at the Etihad Campus.
One of the most important charities in the UK when it comes to male mental health and suicide prevention, Andy’s Man Club and even its logo alone have become a recognisable force for good over the past few years, and the significance of bringing it to such a big scale as City cannot be overstated.
The football club first announced the partnership back in February and has already been working closely with the non-profit organisation to promote better wellbeing amongst men, getting first-team stars such as defender John Stones to open up about his own experiences with mental health just last month.
With that in mind, the word is now out that Man City will be providing yet another location for groups to meet and crucially talk through Andy’s Man Club sessions, confirming details around their first meeting from next week onwards.
Set to kick off in the East Stand of the Etihad Stadium from 7-9pm on Monday, 13 May, Man City will not only help deliver a vital outlet for men in the East Manchester area but become just the latest in a long line of teams to back the regular support group.
Joining over 180 clubs nationwide – including the likes of Altrincham FC, Ashton United and Bolton Wanderers, just to name a few in the Greater Manchester area – Andy’s Mans Club is currently helping well over 4,000 men open up and combat their struggles through peer-to-peer sessions.
Founded by a group of nine blokes from Halifax back in 2016 to create positive change in men’s mental health, Andy’s Man Club now helps gather men aged 18 and over across the country every week throughout the year.
In alignment with other partnered clubs Andy’s Man Clubs across the country, attendees will be asked to arrive from 18:30 (UK) ahead of the 19:00 start time.
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The sessions are free with registration or ID required and, more importantly, there’s no pressure to talk if you don’t want to. The first step is easy: just listen.
Just because it’s being held at City’s ground doesn’t mean you have to be a season ticket holder, have an official Cityzens membership to attend or anything like that, you can simply arrive via the East Stand reception (Door F) and join the session.
Attendees will be greeted on arrival by trained volunteers from Andy’s Man Club who will guide them through the stadium. With the club now on board, group sessions will be running at the same time every week (except bank holiday Mondays) with the first dates scheduled for the following nights this month:
- Monday 13 May
- Monday 20 May
- Monday 3 June
- Monday 10 June
Well done to all those involved in bringing Andy’s Man Club to Manchester City and the East Manchester community. We hope the sessions will help those going along as they have done for thousands of others.
#ItsOkayToTalk
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Featured Images — Manchester City/Andy’s Man Club
