Erik ten Hag has defended his decision to drop Marcus Rashford after Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp criticised the call for Man Utd’s draw at Crystal Palace.
The forward had scored three times in his previous two games but United boss Ten Hag made headlines before the match by remarking on Rashford’s upturn in form that “when your lifestyle is not right you can’t perform in the league we have to perform in”.
“You don’t get the right levels if you don’t have a good and disciplined life away from Carrington,” he added about a player who twice missed games last season due to off-field issues.
Speaking to Sky Sports just before the game against Palace, Ten Hag insisted the decision to name Rashford among the substitutes was just to “rotate” his players.
“It is not a difficult decision, we have to rotate. We have so many games,” said Ten Hag.
“We also have to give [Alejandro] Garnacho games. He has so many goals and assists off the bench, but only has one start this season.”
“It feels like something has gone untoward,” said Redknapp in reaction to the team news. “I don’t know the details. But you don’t drop a player that has scored two in midweek and against Southampton.
“I’d be nervous to say he is back but he is showing signs of the Rashford from two years ago.
“It feels like something’s happened maybe this week, I don’t know the manager’s frustration. It is unusual for a manager to out players for their lifestyle.
“Sir Alex Ferguson would have never done it, whereas Ten Hag has done it on a few occasions. It is not always beneficial to the players.”
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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says he is very happy with Rashford, stating the forward began their 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace on the bench for rotation
Speaking after the goalless draw, in which Rashford was used as a substitute after 61 minutes, Ten Hag said: “Already there is speculation [about the reason for Rashford’s omission from the starting XI]. Pundits.
“As a person you are not OK if you bring such speculation when you don’t know [the situation].
“This had nothing to do with [what I said in the pre-match press conference]. I am very happy with Marcus. His defending and his offensive duties. He’s scoring at the moment.
“It was just about rotation.”
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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag gives greater insight into Rashford’s turn of form this season
Discussing Rashford after the match, Redknapp said: “I can only imagine when he woke up to those headlines it wasn’t enjoyable for him. He was probably going, ‘why is the manager bringing that up?’
“Initially I read it and it was almost like, ‘we’ve figured it out and this was why Marcus wasn’t doing as well last year, he wasn’t living his life the way a professional athlete should’. But obviously it’s been taken slightly differently because he gets left out today. I don’t know what’s happened this week, it might come out, it might not.
“Rotation? He played 63 minutes in midweek and got two goals. You don’t take a player that has two goals [out of the team]. Do you think that they’re going to do that with Mo Salah at Liverpool? It’s just not going to happen.
“Something has gone on that we don’t quite know.” Ten Hag refutes this.
“But if there is something a little untoward and he’s not living his life right that’s something only [Rashford] can take control of,” continued Redknapp. “You’ve got to make sure you’re on it all the time.
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Highlights from the Premier League clash between Crystal Palace and Manchester United
“I liked a night out, we all did. But you have to make sure that you live your life right more so than ever. In my day, pretty much everybody else was doing it. But not now. Every single day you have to dedicate your life to football. He needs to go back to that player of two years ago when he was ripping it up.
“[Last year] it became, at times, hard to watch. There were certain games where he’d trot around and plod and not really look like he cared. Man Utd fans will always want you to make runs and show you care because they’d give anything to have that shirt on. It’s only probably one day where he looks back and thinks ‘why didn’t I give a little bit more at times’.
“He’s got God-given talent but we need to see the Rashford of two seasons ago.”
What did Ten Hag say about Rashford’s omission before kick-off?
Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag speaking to Sky Sports:
“It is not a difficult decision, we have to rotate. We have so many games.
“We also have to give [Alejandro] Garnacho games. He has so many goals and assists off the bench, but only has one start this season.”
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After the win over Barnsley, Sky Sports’ Peter Smith looks at the numbers behind Rashford’s recent performances to see how the Man Utd forward has got back on track
Jones: Rashford on the bench a surprise
Former Man Utd defender Phil Jones on Sky Sports ahead of kick-off:
“Really surprised. I did see him starting so he could build that momentum. I am sure he will play a big role from the bench.”
How we reported the team news
Sky Sports’ Zinny Boswell at Selhurst Park:
“It was apparent that one of the stars of that Barnsley thrashing may have to settle for the bench, it just comes as a surprise that it is Marcus Rashford.
“Erik ten Hag has made a point of giving him a run in the team despite his form stuttering, but now he seems to have had a breakthrough, the manager leaves the forward on the bench.
“Perhaps Ten Hag has an eye on the Europa League game against FC Twente in midweek. Seems an odd time to disrupt the forward’s momentum.
“Alejandro Garnacho, who also scored twice in midweek, is preferred and restored to the starting line-up in the league after scoring off the bench at Southampton.”