Man United may have the new Phil Foden in the Old Trafford ranks after confirmed news – Mills
Danny Mills has admitted Marcus Rashford should be worried about Anthony Elanga’s rise at Manchester United.
The former England defender, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, compared the 19-year-old’s emergence to that of Phil Foden at Manchester City.
Speaking to BT Sport on Wednesday (23 February), Ralf Rangnick revealed he wanted senior stars to look at Elanga “as a role model” after admitting there have been some subdued displays.
The teenage winger came off the bench for Rashford and scored the equaliser in United’s 1-1 draw away at Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
Mills suggested the 24-year-old may need to fight harder to keep his place in Rangnick’s side.
Asked if Rashford should be worried by Elanga’s rise, Mills told Football Insider’s Connor Whitley: “Of course he should. Rashford’s form hasn’t been amazing.
“It’s just like Martial’s form wasn’t amazing. Sancho’s form wasn’t amazing, though he’s getting a little bit better.
“I say this to young players, there is always somebody below you. If you’re in the under-23s, there’s an under-21 that wants to take your place. There’s an under-19 that wants to take his place and an under-18 who wants to take his.
“It’s a conveyor belt. Look where Phil Foden is now. Phil Foden was a 14-year-old hoping to take someone’s place above him and it happened.
“There is always competition of somebody younger and hungrier coming up behind you.
“When you listen to senior players, they say: ‘Okay, you want my shirt. That’s fine, but you are going to have to rip it off my back because I’m not giving it to you.’
“If your performances, work rate, effort and everything else warrant you having this shirt, fine. You’re going to have to rip it off my back.
“Maybe there are one or two players at Manchester United at the moment not fighting hard enough for their own shirt.”
Elanga has scored three goals for Manchester United in 14 appearances this season.
Meanwhile, Rashford has netted five times in 22 games across all competitions.
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