Marcus Rashford's finger-to-the temple, eyes-closed goal celebration is M a moment of contemplative stillness. Unveiled last season, it is the Manchester United forward's version of the shush. The noise around him might be loud but it does not matter. He will cut through it with his focus and mental strength.
There was a difference when he showed it off against Manchester City in March. On that occasion, the eyes blazed and he could not help but scream. It was the Premier League derby at the Etihad and he had just scored one of the goals of his career - a rising 25-yard drive of furious power. Was it better than his Ronaldo-esque, 40-yard knuckleball free-kick at Chelsea in a Carabao Cup tie in 2019? Maybe.
Really, though, the outpouring was triggered by the personal, emotional context. This is what proving a point looks like and as Rashford looks ahead to tomorrow's FA Cup final against City, he is back on familiar territory -doubted to the point of being unwanted; required to mine deeply into his resolve and talent.
Before the previous meeting with City, Rashford was so affected by the criticism of his form - which had been particularly unforgiving after a poor performance in the FA Cup win at Nottingham Forest he responded with an open letter in the Players' Tribune.
Rashford felt his commitment to United had been questioned, his very desire to play the game; the cod psychology of his body language was too much. His words bristled with defiance. "Every single time I've been down, physically or mentally, I always feel like that's when I turn it around and play my best football for United and England," he wrote.
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