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Marcus Rashford and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Solskjaer expecting more from Rashford after opening-day double against Chelsea

The young England striker scored only 10 league goals last season, but will be called upon to lead the line for Man United this year.

MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is expecting more from Marcus Rashford this season after the striker opened his campaign with a brace against Chelsea.

United crushed the Blues 4-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday, with Rashford playing an important role โ€“ though the scoreline did flatter Solskjaerโ€™s side.

Rashford opened the scoring early on with a penalty he won following Kurt Zoumaโ€™s clumsy foul, before Anthony Martial made it 2-0 in the second half.

A cool finish after Paul Pogbaโ€™s pass saw Rashford double his tally a few minutes later, with Daniel James wrapping up the win late on.

Rashford managed to score 10 Premier League goals last term, but Solskjaer is expecting him to kick on this term.

โ€œI think Marcus is developing really well,โ€ Solskjaer told reporters at Old Trafford. โ€œHeโ€™s growing, you see his stature now, his body. Heโ€™s capable of playing more this year.

He struggled with his ankle last season, so this year I expect more from him. But the whole squad, weโ€™re fitter, weโ€™re stronger. You can see in that second half, we are more than capable of lasting games.

โ€œHeโ€™s getting fitter and is a year older. Weโ€™ve had six weeks to work on a shape we want to look like and heโ€™s exceptional when thereโ€™s space in behind.

And the third goal, he almost got the same against Kristiansund [in a pre-season] friendly in Norway, but his touch let him down. Thankfully he brought it down [this time].โ€

Manchester United v Chelsea - Premier League - Old Trafford Two goals in the opening day of the season for Marcus Rashford helped United to a 4-0 victory over Chelsea. Martin Rickett Martin Rickett

Martial began the match as Unitedโ€™s central striker and, although he and Rashford rotated throughout the game, he got his goal with a poacherโ€™s effort from an Andreas Pereira cross.

Solskjaer is hopeful Martial gets more of those goals this season, telling him he should be looking to finish moves from close in, instead of bothering with tricks on the wing.

โ€œItโ€™s always important for a striker [to score goals], but how do you react? Do you drop your shoulders, [and think] โ€˜Iโ€™ve scored my goal nowโ€™, or do you get hungrier and realise, โ€˜Thatโ€™s where I score my goalsโ€™?

โ€œItโ€™s not out wide on the left-hand side showing your skills, itโ€™s in that box, and I was so pleased for Anthony scoring from five yards after that cross, because Iโ€™ve not seen too many of them [from him].โ€

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    Mute seancreaven13
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    Mar 14th 2019, 12:29 PM

    Probably about right to be fair..

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    Mute Seaniecp
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    Mar 14th 2019, 12:31 PM

    So basically a description of each team in the order of how Paddy powers has them placed.

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    Mute yoloboyz
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    Mar 14th 2019, 12:44 PM

    Donโ€™t see the city thing to be honest โ€ฆ every year the English teams will win it according to these โ€œpowerโ€ rankings but yetโ€ฆ Last time they won was Chelsea ten years agoโ€ฆ Like Barryโ€™s tea the English are all talk

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    Mute David Hickey
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    Mar 14th 2019, 12:47 PM

    @yoloboyz: Chelsea won in 2012. Not 2009.

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    Mute Alan Brazil
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    Mar 14th 2019, 12:55 PM

    @yoloboyz: Recon your right, can see Barcelona winning it again.

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    Mute yoloboyz
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    Mar 14th 2019, 2:02 PM

    @Alan Brazil: I think anyone bar maybe porto has a decent chanceโ€ฆ For me there is a group of faves (Manchester city,Liverpool, juventus, Barcelona ) then the rest with maybe Porto a bit behind the othersโ€ฆ.. Personally I just think the idea of city being favourites having failed so many times before and never having reached a final means they have no right to be the max favourite in my opinion

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    Mute Brian Connolly
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    Mar 14th 2019, 12:42 PM

    Wouldnโ€™t shock me in the least bit if United ended up winning, they have a habit of drawing the weaker teams like Porto.

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    Mute Alan Brazil
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    Mar 14th 2019, 12:53 PM

    @Brian Connolly: Man United havenโ€™t been in a quarter final in years to draw a weaker team?

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    Mute Anthony
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    Mar 14th 2019, 12:55 PM

    @Brian Connolly: I think youโ€™re mixing them up with city

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    Mute Brian Connolly
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    Mar 14th 2019, 6:41 PM

    @Alan Brazil: not talking about quarters, i mean in general. Best of luck to them tho, be great if ajax won

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    Mute Bill Clay
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    Mar 15th 2019, 2:17 AM

    Juve to win it .

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