Erik ten Hag will ‘deal with’ Marcus Rashford after latest Man United controversy

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Manchester United's official statement claimed that Marcus Rashford wasn't able to play in Sunday's FA Cup game against Newport due to an illness.

Erik ten Hag has issued a warning that he will handle the situation after rumors surfaced that Rashford was seen at a nightclub in Belfast recently.

There were reports circulating about Rashford's absence, but United refused to give a statement regarding them. They simply stated that Rashford remained at Carrington to train while recovering.

Last Friday, Erik ten Hag, the manager, announced that Rashford was not feeling well and he would monitor his progress before deciding whether to include him in the squad for the FA Cup fourth-round game against Newport, a team in the League Two division.

However, when questioned about the fact that Rashford was not present at the start of the match, Ten Hag insinuated that there could be other underlying factors behind it. He stated: "It's a situation that is happening internally. I will handle it myself."

Ten Hag observed as his team narrowly avoided a major scare in South Wales when League Two Newport made a comeback to equalize the game 2-2 after initially conceding two goals in the first 13 minutes.

"He informed us that he's not feeling well," reiterated Ten Hag after the 4-2 triumph. "The details are confidential. As his coach, I will handle the situation and our team will work together to find a solution."

Marcus Rashford and his manager, Erik ten Hag, were photographed together (credit to Martin Rickett/PA).

At the start of the season, Ten Hag expressed his disapproval of Rashford's involvement in birthday festivities following United's defeat to Manchester City, deeming it inappropriate.

In November, Ten Hag mentioned being cognizant of the matter and stated that he had a conversation with the person involved. He deemed the situation as not meeting acceptable standards and made this known to that individual. The person apologized and the issue was resolved.

Ten Hag has a record of displeasing players, and Rashford is the latest addition to that list. Past examples include Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho, who were both dismissed from the club due to disagreements with the Dutch coach.

When he first joined Manchester United in 2022, Ten Hag discovered a culture that wasn't up to standard. During his time at Old Trafford, he has also had to address disciplinary problems.

Sancho, who was not fitting in with Manchester United, went back to his previous team Borussia Dortmund on a loan deal recently. This happened as he had a disagreement with the head coach from the Netherlands.

When asked about Rashford potentially representing a negative culture, Ten Hag refused to comment. He instead chose to focus on the positive outcome of the game they played and emphasized the need to move forward from the topic.

Alan Shearer, who provides analysis on Match of the Day, urged the need for prompt resolution of the matter to prevent Rashford's abilities from being squandered.

The ex-England captain proclaimed that there is an immense skill residing in Marcus Rashford. He cited an incident where Rashford displayed self-control when he was tardy for a meeting, prompting him to sit out a match.

There is definitely an issue happening either in his personal life or his connection with the football club that needs to be addressed. It's become apparent that he cannot continue to squander his abilities like this. This situation is unacceptable, and it is crucial that he receives effective guidance and support from a competent manager who can remind him of the potential consequences of his actions. If he continues down this path, he will undoubtedly face significant regret once he reaches the end of his career.

"You cannot possess that item, and it's not essential. Sorting it out right away is crucial - last season had 30 objectives, while this season has only four."

Whenever I watch him perform, it seems like he's carrying a heavy load on his shoulders. This is concerning, as he possesses a great deal of skill that shouldn't go to waste. The issue must be addressed immediately.

Further information gathered by PA has been included in this blog.