MARCUS RASHFORD is relishing the support of England fans — after once feeling they did not mind if the team lost.
And the Manchester United forward, 25, praised boss Gareth Southgate for rebuilding the relationship between players and supporters.
Rashford, whose first tournament was the disastrous Euro 2016 under Roy Hodgson, said: “When Gareth took over it was something he was really focused on.
“He just wanted us to try to grow a connection with the fans.
“The support we feel now is different to the support we felt in my first camp, which was 2016.
“It was a completely different atmosphere.
“I feel like . . . not like people wanted us to lose but that people didn’t mind us losing so they could kind of pull us down.”
The squad are feeling the love in Qatar.
He explained: “Sometimes you’re tired on the pitch and honestly it’s the fans that keep you going.
“The adrenaline that they give us is what just keeps us running.”
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Rashford earned his 50th cap as a sub against Senegal in the last 16 — and has his sights set on joining the century club.
He added: “These achievements are special but everything moves so fast, you don’t get the chance to celebrate them.
“I’m still quite young so I’ve definitely got an opportunity to reach 100 caps for my country. That would be unbelievable.”
