Manchester United: Manager Erik ten Hag Addresses Marcus Rashford Situation

Manchester United’s manager, Erik ten Hag, is keen on closing the chapter on the Marcus Rashford (26) story, stating that the forward has taken ownership of the behavior that led to his exclusion from Sunday’s FA Cup match. Rashford was absent from the 4-2 FA Cup fourth-round win against Newport County after missing training last Friday and reportedly being seen at nightspots in Belfast earlier in the week.

Ten Hag’s Perspective on Rashford’s Behavior

“He has taken responsibility, and for the rest, it is an internal matter,” said Ten Hag during a press briefing on Wednesday. “Case closed.”

United will have goalkeeper Andre Onana in action on Thursday against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Onana featured in just one of Cameroon’s four games at the Africa Cup of Nations, where they were eliminated in the last 16.

Manager’s Focus on Winning

Ten Hag was questioned about whether Rashford’s behavior indicates a lack of respect for the club. “It is nothing to do with that,” the manager replied. “Let’s focus on the game… we have to focus on winning football games. In football, you need discipline on the pitch but also off the pitch – there is a line between. Every professional knows what is required.”

On a positive note, Ten Hag highlighted Rashford’s recent performances, including scoring in each of the last two league games and forming a strong bond with fellow forward Rasmus Hojlund. The team, currently ninth in the Premier League standings, faces Wolverhampton Wanderers in their upcoming fixture.

“On our best days, we can beat anyone, but on our worst days, we go down to certain limits that aren’t acceptable,” added Ten Hag. “We have to push our limits to higher levels so that also on our worst days we can get results in.”