Of the several humiliations Manchester United face this year, one close to the top of the list would be Marcus Rashford snatching the FA Cup from his boyhood club – and holders of the trophy – after they went to such lengths to force him out of Old Trafford.
There is a good chance that embarrassment could happen now after Rashford helped book a place in the semi-finals at Wembley with his first goals on loan at Aston Villa, whose late move in the January window for Rashford looks to have paid off.
Rashford could join the likes of Brian Talbot and, more recently, Olivier Giroud in winning back-to-back FA Cups with different teams. Eight months ago, it was Rashford who took United from defence to attack with one beautiful cross-field pass leading to Kobbie Mainoo’s winner in last season’s final.
United waged a campaign to get Rashford out of the club since, with the move to Villa his redemption. He has earned his first England caps in a year during the international break, and now has a return to Wembley to look forward to with his new club.
He tapped in Lucas Digne’s cross for the opening goal at Deepdale, his first for Villa in his 10th appearance since his move. Rashford then tucked away a penalty after Morgan Rogers was brought down, with Jacob Ramsey adding a further goal.
The semi-final will be another landmark game for Villa manager Unai Emery, who has taken the club into the Champions League quarter-finals. He has only taken a team to Wembley once before – when Arsenal manager – and that was in the Premier League, when Tottenham were tenants at the national stadium when the new ground was being built.
Villa will now play Crystal Palace in the semi-finals, with Nottingham Forest taking on either Bournemouth or Manchester City.
03:48 PM BST
Can Bournemouth surprise Manchester City?
Not sure about that. Even an on-song Rashford does not walk straight into the Real Madrid starting XI, for example, but anyway...
Thanks for reading. One more FA Cup quarter-final to go: Bournemouth v Manchester City. Winner plays Nottingham Forest. Kieran Crichard is covering the match for Telegraph Sport.
03:43 PM BST
Dion Dublin: Rashford could start for any team in the world
When Marcus is playing well, like he did in the second half, when you’re giving him what he needs - which is a bit of freedom and chances to score goals, but he’s making the runs fine, he can start in any team in world football. That’s how good Marcus is.
03:40 PM BST
Joe Hart: “That Rashford penalty is tame”
BBC pundits are purring about Marcus Rashford’s penalty technique. He waited for the moment Cornell’s leg moved and went to the left side, as he dived right.
“With the players stuttering [their run-up] and keeping an eye on you, they are not going for the bottom corner,” Joe Hart explains. “That’s tame, that Rashford penalty, but he managed to get rid of the goalkeeper. It’s such a good feeling to do that.”
