‘We’ve not seen that’ – John McGinn debunks Ruben Amorim’s Marcus Rashford claims after Champions League masterclass
ASTON VILLA captain John McGinn has defended his new team-mate Marcus Rashford from Ruben Amorim’s criticism.
Rashford joined Villa on loan in January after struggling for minutes under new Manchester United manager Amorim, making just six appearances following his arrival in November.
His primary complaint was a lack of intensity in Rashford’s training and reluctance to buy into his ideas.
The Portuguese said: “I couldn’t put Marcus to see the way you’re supposed to play football and to train the way I see it.”
Since moving to the Midlands, though, Rashford, 27, has been back to his best, impressing in his first appearances for Villa and most recently starring in Tuesday’s 3-1 Champions League win over Club Brugge.
McGinn has now revealed how well Rashford and his fellow Villa loanees Marco Asensio and Axel Disasi have settled in behind the scenes.
He said: “They’ve been a breath of fresh air.
“Three really good guys, obviously come with big reputations but they haven’t shown any ego.
“They’re pretty low maintenance, they work hard to get their careers back on track.”
Like Rashford, Asensio and Disasi are looking for redemption at Villa after struggling at their respective clubs.
Spanish international Asensio, 29, never quite kicked on after joining PSG from Real Madrid, but scored a brace for Villa in a 2-1 win over Chelsea shortly after moving.
Disasi, 26, struggled to win over Enzo Maresca at Chelsea, falling behind free transfer Tosin Adarabioyo in the pecking order.
McGinn continued: “They obviously weren’t playing at their clubs, so what we can give them is a platform to do that and be happy.
“All we want in return is for them to be a good team-mate, work hard, do the things we’ve all been doing over the last couple of seasons and show their quality.
“They’ve been brilliant.”
Villa’s away win over Club Brugge gives them the upper hand going into the second leg at Villa Park, which will take place next Wednesday.