When analysing players a distinction must be made between positions and roles. On paper, Rashford’s position is a left winger, but this does not tell the whole story.
In Ten Hag’s debut season at Manchester United Rashford scored 30 goals and contributed 12 assists as he profited from taking up a position halfway between a winger and a striker.
Flick has tapped into this, and Rashford is allowed to float between playing wide left and moving centrally.
As a result, Rashford has found himself closer to goal, which has allowed him to take more shots from dangerous positions, taking advantage of his world-class ball-striking ability.
This freedom has allowed him to decide big games. His wonderful strike from outside the box against Newcastle United in the Champions League came when he drifted centrally – in fact closer to the right – from his left-wing position.