LONDON: Aston Villa manager Unai Emery said he was “happy” for Marcus Rashford as the England forward prepares to make his 500th career appearance.
Rashford has undergone something of an on-field revival since joining the Birmingham club on loan from Manchester United, with the England forward scoring three goals in his last two Villa outings.
He is now set to make his 12th appearance for Emery’s side at home to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, having made 426 appearances for United in total and won 62 caps for England.
“Happy for him,” Emery said. “Happy because he is achieving individual objectives as well, with these appearances he is doing, playing matches here with us.
“And try to enjoy with him, not more, try to feel comfortable himself every day here, with everything we are doing and with his team-mates.
“Training, playing and of course with the challenges we have together, to try to achieve, and to play in his best form, qualities, skills and confidence.”
Villa are chasing a seventh straight win in all competitions against high-flying Midlands rivals Forest as they aim to continue an impressive season.
They reached the FA Cup semifinals with victory at Preston on Sunday, and Wednesday’s 3-0 win at Brighton lifted them to within four points of the top four with eight games to play.
Spanish manager Emery could have a full-strength squad to face Forest, with Ross Barkley recovering from a long-term knee injury and Leon Bailey set for a late fitness test.
Emery said having returning players available again would be vital to how Villa finished the season, adding: “We don’t have now time to explain a lot about how we are, and how we are playing a lot of matches now being very, very important in Premier League, in Champions League and in FA Cup.
“Of course, the players now, we are recovering players, we are feeling stronger.
“We were in some moments in the season with some players injured, with some players not feeling physically good.
“We were struggling sometimes and not achieving the objective we were facing in that moment.
“Of course now, with the players we have more or less available for (Saturday’s) match, or the match we play before, I’m happy because my plan is to try to extend 90 minutes competing in the demands we have, and the demands (of) the opponent facing us.”
Emery glad to see Rashford make landmark appearance
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Emery glad to see Rashford make landmark appearance
- “Happy for him,” Emery said
- “Happy because he is achieving individual objectives as well, with these appearances he is doing, playing matches here with us”
Cup of Nations stays with form as Africa’s top two dominate
- The Cup of Nations has regularly produced surprises and upsets with previous editions
- Morocco finished the game stronger and fitter and converted all their penalties bar one with aplomb
RABAT: The rankings proved spot on as Africa’s top two teams advanced to this weekend’s Cup of Nations final, with Morocco and Senegal setting up a heavyweight clash.
But while Senegal overcame Egypt 1-0 in 90 minutes in Tangier on Wednesday, Morocco needed a penalty shootout before disposing of Nigeria after a goalless draw in Rabat to book their place in Sunday’s decider.
The Cup of Nations has regularly produced surprises and upsets with previous editions having seen many pre-tournament favorites falter, but this time the two best teams will contest the final as a strong field in Morocco has been progressively whittled down, with the rankings proving accurate for once.
Morocco, whose only Cup of Nations triumph came half a century ago, are one of several previous underachievers, notably in recent years when the quality of their squad suggested they could win the trophy, but they are now on the cusp of success.
At this Cup of Nations as hosts they looked nervy initially under the burden of expectation but in their last two matches have shown the form that has seen them ranked top on the continent since their World Cup exploits in Qatar in 2022 when they became the first African country to reach a semifinal.
MOROCCO LOOKING STRONGER AS TOURNAMENT UNFOLDS
Morocco’s aggressive pressing, high-tempo play and relentless attack saw them easily dispose of Cameroon in the quarter-finals, and while Nigeria proved tougher to dislodge in the semis, they were again much the better side.
Morocco finished the game stronger and fitter and converted all their penalties bar one with aplomb.
On top of this, their defense gave Nigeria’s dangerous forward Victor Osimhen no opportunities, marking him out of the game. Morocco have conceded once in six matches at the tournament and that was a penalty in their second group game against Mali.
“Today, we’re reaping the rewards of the golden age of Moroccan football but we mustn’t forget where we come from,” said coach Walid Regragui after Wednesday’s triumph.
He has won belated plaudits for his tactical acumen but still has one more hurdle to overcome with a confident Senegal waiting in the final.
Senegal, through to a third final in the past four editions, have a strong attacking lineup and scored in all six matches en route to the final, with Sadio Mane hitting the late semifinal winner against Egypt.
It was a goal that confirmed the 33-year-old’s continued importance to the side, even if they have several other potential match winners, and Mane is looking to go out with another winners’ medal.
“We know how to play the final,” Mane warned after Wednesday’s success. “A final is meant to be won. I will be very happy to play my last Afcon final, to enjoy it and to make my country win.”
