England manager Thomas Tuchel has urged Marcus Rashford to consistently perform at his highest level or risk regretting unfulfilled potential later in his career.
Speaking to Sky Sports on Tuesday, Tuchel praised the 27-year-old’s natural ability and clinical finishing but stressed that talent alone is not enough to succeed in elite football.
Tuchel described Rashford, currently on loan at Barcelona from Manchester United, as a player capable of becoming one of the world’s best forwards — but warned that failure to maintain high standards could see his career fall short of expectations.
“He can be one of the best in the world because of his finishing and overall quality,” Tuchel said. “But he still has to make those decisions now. He’s young enough to do it — otherwise, in 10 years, he might look back disappointed with what he could have achieved.”
Tuchel revealed that he regularly speaks with Rashford, reminding him of the need to be more decisive in front of goal and more creative in attack.
“That’s the headline for him — to keep pushing himself to the limit,” the England coach added. “His limit is very high, maybe higher than most. But potential is a dangerous word in top-level sport because it means nothing until you realise it.”
Rashford has scored three goals and provided four assists in 10 appearances for Barcelona since joining the Spanish club on loan during the summer transfer window.
Tuchel said the challenge for the forward is to deliver consistently, whether starting or coming off the bench.
“It’s not about talent anymore. It’s about proving himself every week — both for his club and the national team,” he said.
Rashford has featured in nearly all of Tuchel’s England squads since the German’s appointment in March, missing only the summer internationals against Senegal and Andorra due to an injury he sustained at the end of the 2024/25 season while on loan at **Aston Villa.
