"I'm not Harry Potter! It's just confidence", Ten Hag said on Rashford's form

has scored 18 goals this season. The England international scored three times at the World Cup and has managed to score 10 goals for United after the tournament.

Ahead of Saturday's fourth-round FA Cup clash at home to Reading, Ten Hag was asked about his role in the 25-year-old’s resurgence.

"I'm not Harry Potter, it's just confidence. Every player has to make and get his own confidence.

"He fought for this, he invested in this. Of course with my coaching staff, we bring in structures, especially in the way of play that gives him routines that he needs to get into the right position.

"But finally, it's up to him, and when the player has the confidence then I'm convinced, in the way we are working – the way of play is most important but the environment and the culture are also important – then the player can perform at his best.

"It's obvious that Marcus is in really good form. From day to day, from training to training, from game to game, the routines are coming in."

defender

has lost his place in the starting eleven this season and Ten Hag even has used Luke Shaw ahead of him at center-back, but the Dutchman insisted that Maguire is not his fifth choice center-back, and urged him to fight for his place.

"No, he's not fifth choice,”

he said about Maguire.

"But it's up to him.

"I have to say he's training very well, bringing quality, and that is what I expect from all the players in the squad.

"He has to fight for his position and things can change, sometimes really quickly. He is making progress."

Ten Hag also dismissed claims that he does not trust Maguire in big matches.

He said:

"That's not true. After the World Cup he should have played but then he got ill. I can't do anything about that and he knows that. Then the team comes in a run [of form] and he has to wait for his chance."

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