Jamie Carragher offered a cheeky dig at Marcus Rashford and Manchester United following an embarrassing blunder from Aston Villa ahead of their Champions League quarter-final against PSG.
The Liverpool legend reacted to Aston Villa accidently playing the Europa League anthem – a competition the club have not participated in for nearly 15 years – before kick-off against the French champions.
Footage showed the reaction of players from both sides, with several PSG stars appeared baffled by the gaffe.
Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa and Youri Tielemans were seen struggling to hold in their laughter as the teams stood awkwardly as the wrong music played.
Carragher seized on the chance to have a dig at Liverpool’s arch rivals Man United, as the cameras panned to Rashford.
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher aimed a cheeky dig at Marcus Rashford and Man United
Aston Villa played the Europa League anthem instead of Champions League before the second leg of their clash with Paris Saint-Germain
Carragher joked Rashford was ‘used to it’ after the Europa League anthem was wrongly played
‘I mean, actually, Marcus Rashford seems fine – he’s used to it,’ Carragher joked, leading to awkward laughs in the studio.
Carragher’s comment reference Man United’s recent appearances in the second tier European competition.
The Red Devils have been playing in the Europa League this season, with Rashford featuring in the group stages before joining Aston Villa on loan in January and stepping up to the Champions League.
Man United, who have alternated between the Champions League and Europa League in the last eight seasons, could yet have the last laugh.
Ruben Amorim’s side could book their place in the Europa League semi-finals on Thursday, with their last eight tie against Lyon level at 2-2 after the first leg.
Despite the embarrassing blunder pre-match, Aston Villa came close to producing a stunning turnaround against PSG on Tuesday with Rashford a central figure.
The hosts had trailed 3-1 from the first leg and saw the deficit increase when PSG raced into a 2-0 lead on the night.
Aston Villa threatened a remarkable turnaround with goals from Tielemans, John McGinn and Ezri Konsa putting them back within touching distance.
The ex-Liverpool defender’s joke came with rivals Man United featuring in the Europa League
Rashford featured in the Europa League for Man United before joining Aston Villa on loan
A number of players appeared to see the funny side of things of Aston Villa’s mistake, including Vitinha (left) and Youri Tielemans (right) and Ezri Konsa
Rashford had produced a brilliant assist for Konsa’s goal, with the forward appearing revitalised by his loan move away from Man United.
To date he has six assists and three goals in 15 games for his loan club, and naturally it has raised questions over whether he would fit straight back in at United, or perhaps decide that at 27 he is ready for a change of scenery.
Speaking on Amazon Prime, former Liverpool and Chelsea forward Daniel Sturridge suggested Rashford has proved his doubters wrong at Aston Villa.
‘The narrative before he came was he was not the same player. He has proven everyone wrong,’ Sturridge said.
‘There was a narrative that he is not the same player and Amorim was correct but he has shown everyone again this is who I am and how I play.
‘Sometimes as a player it is down to you to show the manager, sometimes you won’t get love from a manager so you go on loan or fight to get your spot and do what the manager wants to do and he has chosen to come here and it has worked out.
‘Sometimes it goes the other way and things go really bad, but I am really proud he has come here and shown everyone once again what he is all about.’
‘I don’t know what he plans to do, every player wants to be on the pitch and their manager to have total belief, he has been in these moments previously at United playing week out and full of life and since he joined Villa we are seeing that version again.
Rashford earned plenty of praise for his performance on Tuesday night for Aston Villa
Rashford picked up his sixth assist since joining Villa in January in the defeat by PSG
Despite a valiant comeback PSG beat Aston Villa to make the Champions League semi-finals
‘He wasn’t himself but now he is again, playing with confidence and enjoying himself which is important. Whatever he chooses to do is up to him.
‘The future is in Man United’s hands, he is their player and he will have options if United don’t want him but as United I am looking at him and they have to work out a way to make it work.’
Despite Aston Villa looking well placed to qualify for the Champions League again next season, Man United legend Wayne Rooney suggested Rashford will want to still succeed with the Red Devils.
‘This is why I said about Villa at the top level, Rashford feels he has a better chance of trophies and performing here than at United,’ he said.
‘It is a worry for United, but from Villa’s point of view it is a positive. From Marcus’ point of view I really want to see him like he was tonight, running around terrorising defenders, getting shots off, showing all his qualities.’
