Marcus Rashford has pointed to the “inconsistent environment” at Manchester United as a key factor contributing to the challenges he faced in maintaining peak performance throughout his career.

This summer, Rashford made a move from Manchester United to Barcelona on a season-long loan, which includes an option for a permanent transfer. Since joining the esteemed Catalan club, the 27-year-old forward has been experiencing a significant upswing in his form. He has managed to find the back of the net three times and has assisted in five goals across just 10 matches.

Before England’s upcoming qualifier against Latvia, Rashford was questioned by ITV regarding Thomas Tuchel’s observation that achieving consistency could elevate him to a world-class level. In response, Rashford acknowledged his desire to be a more consistent player. However, he hinted that the environment at Manchester United had been a hindrance to fulfilling this goal up until now.

“For sure, consistency is a massive part of it,” Rashford candidly admitted.

Responding to the comment, Rashford admitted he wanted to become a more consistent player, but suggested the environment he played in at Man United had prevented him from achieving that to date. 

Marcus Rashford has claimed an ‘inconsistent environment’ has impacted his own form

Rashford left Man United in the summer after being frozen out of the squad by Ruben Amorim

He has enjoyed a positive start to his Barcelona loan, who can make his move permanent

‘For sure, consistency is a massive part of it,’ Rashford said.

‘I feel like I have been in an inconsistent environment for a very long time, so it is even more difficult to be consistent.

‘But I completely agree, I think consistency is what I need to bring into my game and I am looking to do that.

‘I want to be at my best, not sometimes, but as often as possible.

‘When people talk about consistency, in order to be consistent in anything not just sport, you need consistent variables in your life and the way you train.

‘We have just had so many changes so far in my career but I have to look forward and that it definitely one of the things I want to put right and improve on to be at my best more often.

‘When I am at my best I really enjoy everything about the sport.’

Having made his senior debut under Louis van Gaal at Man United back in 2016, Rashford played for a further four permanent and three interim bosses with the Red Devils.

Rashford’s most prolific campaign came under Erik ten Hag when he scored 30 in a season

Ten Hag had warned about Rashford’s lifestyle amid the forward’s dramatic loss of form

Rashford had enjoyed his most consistent spell at the club under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, during his three years in charge of the club.

He netted 22 goals and provided nine assists in the 2019-20 season, before adding 21 goals and 13 assists the following campaign.

Rashford saw a marked drop off the following season which saw Solskjaer sacked and Ralf Rangnick take interim charge, where he provided just five goals and two assists.

His most prolific season came under Erik ten Hag during the 2022-23 campaign, where Rashford scored 30 goals in all competitions and added a further nine assists.

Rashford, who signed a £300,000-per-week contract following the season, had a marked dip in his goal contributions in the 2023-24 season where he struck just eight times and laid on five goals.

The decline in form came amid warnings from Ten Hag about Rashford’s lifestyle.

It followed the star being dropped for missing training after an infamous tequila bender in Belfast, as well as previously oversleeping an missing a team meeting.

Ten Hag’s successor Ruben Amorim claimed earlier this year that Rashford needed to ‘change’ and stressed Man United’s squad needed to ‘set standards’ after freezing the forward out of his side.

Amorim insisted this year that Rashford needed to ‘change’ after freezing him out of the squad

Rashford scored a brilliant brace for Barcelona against Newcastle in the Champions League last month

Rashford was eventually loan out to Aston Villa for the remainder of the 2024-25 season, where he scored four goals and provided six assists in 17 appearances.

Despite being dropped for being late to a team meeting last month by manager Hansi Flick, Barcelona officials have insisted they are ‘happy’ with Rashford and open to signing him permanently.

Barcelona sporting director Deco also echoed Rashford’s suggestion that instability at Old Trafford had played a part in the forward’s inconsistency to date.

‘It’s too early to talk about decisions for next season, but what matters is that we’re happy with him. What we thought he could bring to us, he’s bringing,’ Deco said.

‘He’s a very high-level player. He exploded very early, then he had great seasons at United, then he had years of more complicated management with changes of coaches, and perhaps he struggled too because they demanded a lot of things from him there. But we’re happy with him – that’s the most important thing.

‘These aren’t decisions for now. Now it’s time to focus on the games to come. A decision will be made, but that’s not being discussed right now. There’s a contract between the clubs but it has to be discussed.’