Marcus Rashford played with some proper gusto, and he definitely played Malo Gusto like a right mug. The Chelsea right-back couldn't handle the speed of thought, the movement, or the delivery from Aston Villa's star substitute. It was a right proper thumping!
Rashford's making his mark at Villa
The story should be about that goalscoring machine Marco Asensio, the ace of the brace, but everyone's going to be banging on about Rashford's two assists instead. His loan move to Villa from Manchester United has been one of the stories of the season, and for good reason!
Rashford needed a change
Rashford had to get the hell out of United, of course. They wanted him gone for their tactics and money, and he knew it. He chased a new challenge, and good on him for that!
Rashford found his smile again
Rashford needed to play with a smile on his face again, and Villa's manager Unai Emery helped him do just that. "Support him," Emery said about bringing the best out of the 27-year-old. "Help him get his confidence back." And it bloody worked!
Rashford inflicted pain on Gusto
It wasn't actually his pace that did the damage to Chelsea. He came on at half-time and immediately started running at Gusto, causing all sorts of trouble. Villa were losing 1-0 at the time, but Rashford turned it around with his sheer presence on the pitch.
All defenders hate facing pace, and Rashford has it in spades. He's perfect for a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 like Emery's system. Villa struggled in the first half, but Rashford's introduction changed the game. He ran at Gusto, set up Asensio for the equalizer, and then whipped in a corner that led to the winner. What a performance!
Chelsea's keeper made a howler
Chelsea's keeper, Filip Jorgensen, should have saved Asensio's shot, but he fumbled it over the line. Manager Enzo Maresca said, "The keeper position is a delicate one; if the keeper makes a mistake, it's clear for everyone." What's also clear is that Chelsea have spent over £1bn and still don't have an elite goalkeeper or centre-forward!
Villa's win was satisfying
For Emery, the win was deeply satisfying. It lifted Villa from tenth to seventh and confirmed the wisdom of their January transfer work. The sight of a smiling Rashford applauding the Holte End said it all. FOOTBALL IS LIFE, and Rashford is living it at Villa!
