Marcus Rashford’s Comments on Benni McCarthy Emerge Ahead of CHAN Quarter-Final
- Marcus Rashford commented on Benni McCarthy's impact on his game when the Harambee Stars coach joined Manchester United
- The South African spent two seasons at Old Trafford, helping Rashford produce the best season of his career
- McCarthy took charge of the Harambee Stars in March and has led them to the quarter-finals of CHAN 2024
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Marcus Rashford's comments about Harambee Stars boss Benni McCarthy have surfaced ahead of their upcoming CHAN 2024 clash against Zambia at Kasarani.
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Benni McCarthy and the Harambee Stars have qualified for the CHAN quarter-finals after DR Congo eliminated Angola from the tournament.
They will clash with Zambia on Sunday, hoping to win the group and play the quarter-final in Nairobi in front of their fans.
How has Benni McCarthy done as Harambee Stars coach?
The former South Africa international took charge of the Harambee Stars in March and is overseeing one of Kenya's best runs.
In his first outing, Kenya salvaged a last-gasp draw against Gambia in the World Cup qualifiers before losing to Gabon at Nyayo Stadium on March 23.
In June, the 47-year-old registered his first win when Kenya beat Chad in a friendly match in Morocco.
His first competitive win as Kenya's coach came on August 3, when they triumphed over DR Congo at CHAN 2024.
His team drew with Angola, shocked Morocco, and then received a boost from DR Congo to secure a spot in the last eight.
McCarthy is now preparing his side for a quarter-final in a major tournament, aiming to secure victory after years of underperformance.
What did Marcus Rashford say about Benni McCarthy?
McCarthy spent two seasons at Manchester United before taking the Harambee Stars role.
In 2022, the Man United academy graduate, now at Barcelona, praised McCarthy for his significant impact on his game.
"He's [McCarthy] definitely helped me a lot. To have them attack-minded coaches within the squad is great for us forward players," Rashford told Sky Sports via MEN "It's just day in, day out, we're thinking about scoring goals, rather than the other bits."
Source: Getty Images
McCarthy was responsible for coaching the club's strikers and forwards. In the 2022/23 campaign, Rashford enjoyed the best season of his career, scoring 30 goals.
"We've got him always there, speaking to us about it. I think my aim is to get back to enjoying my football and at the minute I am, so I'm not complaining. If I'm scoring goals and winning, then I'm happy."
McCarthy is also South Africa's all-time top scorer and has worked alongside José Mourinho and other elite coaches.
Who are CHAN 2024 favourites?
Angola, Zambia, Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, Nigeria, and Niger have already been knocked out of the tournament.
Co-hosts Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania sit at the top of their groups, with Uganda being the only host nation to have suffered a loss.
Tanzania are the only team with a perfect record, having defeated Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Madagascar.
With their hard-fought win over Morocco, Kenyans are optimistic about their chances, but they will have to face the likes of Tanzania, Algeria, and South Africa at some point.
Kenya will face the second-placed team from Group B in the quarter-finals if they finish top, with home advantage playing a crucial role.
What did Bruno Fernandes say about Benni McCarthy?
In a related story, TUKO.co.ke reported that Bruno Fernandes' past comments on McCarthy surfaced.
The Man United captain lauded the South African when he was part of the coaching staff at Old Trafford.
Fernandes and McCarthy won two trophies at Man United in two seasons.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
