Former Watford captain Troy Deeney has sparked a fierce debate by naming Marcus Rashford as his flop of the year, calling out the Manchester United star for falling short of expectations in 2024. Deeney, who has never shied away from expressing his opinion, also took aim at Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus, criticizing his performances as “stinky” and questioning the striker’s attitude towards goal-scoring.

Speaking candidly on talkSPORT, Deeney expressed his disappointment with Rashford’s season, highlighting how the United forward has failed to live up to the high standards set in previous years. “Who’s been a flop for me… it sounds like I’m piling on and I don’t mean to, but you probably have to say Marcus,” Deeney said. He pointed out that despite the hype and expectation surrounding Rashford, the player’s performances have left much to be desired.

Deeney was equally critical of Gabriel Jesus, who has struggled to find consistency for Arsenal this season. The former Premier League striker did not hold back, labeling Jesus’ performances as “stinky” and suggesting that the Brazilian has shown a lack of desire to score goals. “He’s a good footballer that doesn’t like scoring goals,” Deeney remarked, before questioning Jesus’ controversial comment that scoring goals was not his strong point.

The harsh assessments from Deeney have sparked widespread reaction, with fans of both clubs debating the validity of his criticisms. Rashford and Jesus, both key players for their respective teams, will certainly feel the weight of these comments, as they continue to grapple with their form and try to live up to the high expectations placed on them this season.