MANCHESTER: Marcus Rashford now ‘does not stop smiling’ after scoring a hat-trick in the second half as Manchester United thrashed RB Leipzig 5-0.

On the day Rashford petitioned for free food at the school to get 1 million signatures, the striker came in in the 63rd minute and scored in the 74th, 78th and second minutes in extra time.

Rashford said: “I think the manager told me when I came in he wanted to improve the pace of the game and of course it meant I had to strike and there was clearly room there.

“We seem to be able to score every time we attack.

“It was a real performance of the team and those who started the game played well and those who came in after that did the same.

“We can’t ask for more than this in terms of character and seriousness and want to play and finish the game immediately.”

And in a tweet celebrating the success, he praised the success of the petition he organized before adding: “Can’t stop smiling, I’ve been waiting too long for that. Just hope the co-supporters feel it with me.”

Rashford was also denied an earlier hat-trick when Anthony Martial asked for a penalty in the 87th minute but the Frenchman completed it.

Asked if there was a conversation between them, Rashford said: “There is a little bit but I’m sure Anthony took it, so no problem.”

The victory was the second in two games for United in the Champions League.