Marcus Rashford’s form deserves better than Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s failing Manchester United

Marcus Rashford will have dreamed about captaining Manchester United from a young age but the reality was nothing short of a waking nightmare. He may have led United out for the first time in his career on Tuesday night and scored the goal which gives them hope of still playing in a Carabao Cup final this year, but the 180th Manchester derby was otherwise a dismal evening.

Rashford said that, in the fullness of time, he would still remember this first time wearing the armband as “a nice moment” but that personal milestones counted for little given the authority of Manchester City’s 3-1 victory. Pep Guardiola’s side will only take a two-goal lead into the second leg because of Rashford’s second-half response, but they will still start that game absolutely certain of their superiority.

This was not an Old Trafford derby defeat on the same scale as the infamous 6-1 in 2011, when Sir Alex Ferguson’s 10-man United were blown out of the water by three late goals. City’s winning margin on Tuesday night was not even as wide as the convincing 3-0 win inflicted on David Moyes in his solitary season in charge.

But during the 28 minutes between Bernardo Silva’s opening goal and half time, the gulf between Manchester’s two clubs has never felt quite as chasmic. United ended the last century straddling this city, their position as its dominant force seemingly permanent, but they begin this decade with the tables turned 180 degrees. It may be another 10 years before they can redress the balance.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer simply had no answer to the movement of City’s attack, which saw several of Guardiola’s players taking turns to operate in a false nine position and drag United hither and thither. Bernardo, Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez all operated as the nominal centre-forward at different points. How long had they worked on such sophisticated patterns of play? “We did 15 minutes this morning, that’s about it,” revealed a typically deadpan De Bruyne.

That either speaks to the ease with which City pick up Guardiola’s methods or it suggests little effort is required to outwit United. “We were way off the tempo,” Rashford admitted. “They changed a little bit and brought more players deeper than the last time we played against them. On the pitch we have to adapt. We have to try to control the situation better than the way we did.”

United have been here before. Guardiola did not need to be reminded of how Paris Saint-Germain left an Old Trafford first leg with a two goal lead last year only to be knocked out of the Champions League in their own backyard. United would force a penalty shoot-out with a 2-0 win at the Etihad, but have not won away at City by two clear goals in 15 years. They have not won by three in a quarter-of-a-century.

Rashford is not ready to concede the tie just yet, though can hardly be confident of a comeback. “We know we can do it but we understand at the same time how dangerous they are as a team with the individuals they have,” he said. “[The goal] makes it doable but to be honest our minds aren’t on the second leg.” The parallel of Paris was raised. “It’s difficult to say. It’s different. It’s a completely different game, different players, different team. What’s important is the character that we showed. It happened against PSG and we’re going to have to find that again. There’s always a chance if we do that.”

But results like Paris or the win at the Etihad in the league last month are the exception rather than the rule. Jurgen Klopp once compared defending deep and countering against Guardiola’s City with trying to win the lottery. The champions may be paying out more regularly this season, but Solskjaer bought another ticket on Tuesday night and cannot be too surprised at the end result.

As for his players, hardly any can call their season up to this point as a success. David de Gea can still largely be relied upon but has shown signs of decline. Scott McTominay’s gradual evolution into a combative ball-winning midfielder is encouraging but has been repeatedly disrupted by injury. Even the three most recent signings – cited as proof that United’s revamped recruitment process is working – have questions hanging over them.

Harry Maguire has underwhelmed, especially when considering that he arrived as the world’s most expensive defender. Daniel James has clear qualities but admits he has played more often than he expected to and no goal since August suggests he could do with a spell out of the firing line. Aaron Wan-Bissaka has impressed defensively but the well-known and long-established limitations to his attacking game are still there for all to see.

Only Rashford has made significant strides in his development. Tuesday night’s goal may have little ultimate bearing on the tie but it was his 17th in 22 games for club and country. The past few months have seen him develop into one of the Premier League’s more devastating counter-attacking players and his performances as a wide player cutting inside from the left wing have settled the interminable debate over his best position.

It is only a shame that Rashford should finally establish himself at Old Trafford and enjoy a sustained spell of good form at such a fallow period in United’s history. He is displaying a maturity and leadership that makes him an obvious captaincy stand-in. With Maguire now injured for an indefinite amount of time having torn a hip muscle, Rashford is likely to deputise again for Norwich’s visit this weekend.

But he already bears much responsibility. Aside from the emergence of Mason Greenwood as a viable backup option, Rashford is United's only real unqualified success of the season. He is now the one they turn to when things are not going well, as they often aren't. Still just 22-years-old, Rashford deserves better than to carry the burden of a failing team, under a struggling manager, freshly embarrassed by their superior neighbours.