Rashford hails ‘special balls’ as stunning free-kick KOs Chelsea to send Man Utd into Carabao Cup quarters
MARCUS RASHFORD put his stunning winner down to having special balls.
The nerveless striker scored a penalty three days after missing from the spot then topped it with a spectacular 30 yard free kick to send Manchester United into the Carabao Cup quarter finals.
The Carabao Cup uses different balls to those in the Premier League and crafty Rashford took full advantage.
He said: “To be honest, it was the balls. When we were training with them and we were shooting there was this up and down motion and they can go anywhere.
“Thankfully, today it went in the top corner. It is a positive day.
“You always step forward to take it and when the moment comes it is just about trying to be relaxed.
'WE'RE STILL IN A TOUGH PLACE'
"Thankfully, today I was. It made the game a little bit easier for us but the second goal was the one that killed the game.”
Rashford’s double is the perfect way to celebrate his 22nd birthday on Thursday, which falls on Halloween.
And rejuvenated United haunted Chelsea once again with a second successive victory over them this season as they clinched a third away win on the spin.
Rashford said: “We have been in a tough place. We are still getting through that phase and the only way to do it is to fight your way through it.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was not surprised to see Rashford shrug off the disappointment of his penalty miss at Norwich on Sunday.
He said: “Marcus has that strike in him, I’ve seen it in training so many times.
“We’re hitting form. We’re three wins away from home now.
"We’ve travelled a lot the last week. But when you get the results the team spirit and camaraderie stays together.”
Chelsea chief Frank Lampard’s bid to avenge a 4-0 thrashing by United in their first game of the season fell flat despite a classy equaliser from Michy Batshuayi.
He made six changes from the team which won 4-2 at Burnley on Saturday as the heavy toll of the campaign starts to take effect on his young team.
But relaxed Lampard said: “We’ve had seven wins on the trot. We’ve had taxing games in the Champions League. We want to get into the next stage of that.
"Our form in the league has been really good. They’re the priorities.
“I saw a lot of things today that were good for us for the future. A lot of positive things about us. I hate losing. We all do here. But there’s a bigger picture here and a lot of big games to come.”