How Benni McCarthy Has Helped Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho at Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United

How Benni McCarthy Has Helped Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho at Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United

Martin Moses
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:26 PM
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  • Benni McCarthy has widely been credited with the turnaround of Manchester United forwards, specifically Marcus Rashford
  • Jadon Sancho could be on the same path with the winger said to be taking one-on-one sessions with the former Bafana Bafana legend
  • McCarthy was only appointed after the Red Devils failed to get former striker Robin Van Persie to take up the coaching position

The appointment of former Premier League striker, Benni McCarthy as one of Erik ten Hag's technical team members seems to have had a ripple effect of the club's fortunes this season.

McCarthy joined the Red Devils as an offensive coach after the season had begun.

He has so far been credited with Marcus Rashford's upturn in form, with the English forward the hottest commodity in European football at the moment.

Benni McCarthy, Manchester United, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho
Marcus Rashford celebrates with Jadon Sancho on February 19. Photo by Richard Heathcote.
Source: Getty Images

Even before the dust settles on Rashford's form, it has now been revealed that Jadon Sancho is also following the same suit.

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If his two goals in his first four games since he came back from an enforced layoff are anything to go by, then ten Hag will need McCarthy to keep doing what he is doing with his forwards.

Sancho to follow Rashford's route

The Mirror reports that Sancho noticed his touch with players and requested a one-on-one session with McCarthy. But what is it the former South Africa international is doing differently at Old Trafford?

Like a well-functioning car requires good tyres and a well-conditioned engine to run, the South African was roped in solely to work on the club's forwards.

A former striker with Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United, McCarthy scored 37 goals in 120 appearances. His ability to speak four different languages has enabled him build on his personal touch with players.

McCarhy's personal touch

It is also reported that his personality has made him a popular figure at Carrington Training base, with the players feeling at ease to approach him for help.

So far, the results have been clear. Rashford has already broken his best season tally in front of goal. Sancho's reintroduction to the fold at a time when the Red Devils are having a lot of games has also been vital. Anthony Martial, despite his injury struggles, has also looked sharp whenever he is on the pitch.

The 45-year-old wasn't even United's first-choice as a striker coach, but following their failure to get Robin Van Persie, he was brought in and has been worth every penny so far.

Musicians pay tribute to McCarthy

Sports Brief also reported on TKZee and McCarthy collaborating on Shibobo - one of the country's biggest hits of all-time - ahead of the FIFA World Cup in 1998.

25 years later, other musicians paid tribute to the United forwards coach. Cape Town rappers, YoungstaCPTY and Shaney Jay joined forces on Benni McCarthy.

The song is a straightforward tribute to the Bafana Bafana legend, which chronicles the path that he took to get where he is on the world football stage.

Authors
Martin Moses photo
Martin Moses
Martin Moses is a sports journalist with over five years of experience in media. He graduated from Multimedia University of Kenya (Bachelor of Journalism, 2017-2021)
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