Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has issued a stern warning to England international Marcus Rashford noting that his lifestyle was not “right” and that he lacked “professionalism” during his dramatic slump last season.
Despite being one of the most important player in the squad, Rashford failed to play at the highest level last season. However, he has found back his mojo this season, scoring three goals in his last two games after ending a 12-game goal drought.
The England international has also shown glimpses of the dynamic play that saw him score a career-high 30 times two seasons ago.
Rashford was criticised by Ten Hag after being seen in a nightclub hours after a heavy derby defeat in November and, in January, was fined after a social trip to Belfast ended in him missing training.
Erik ten Hag has now insisted that Rashford’s attitude has changed, as shown by him starting all six games so far this season.
“I think he always knew, and every player knows, because when your lifestyle is not right, you can’t perform,” he said.
“You don’t get the right levels when you don’t have a good and disciplined life away from Carrington.
“Probably he needed some help, by backing him for instance. At the end of the day, he has to do it by himself. He has to set his life right, his training attitude right, his match attitude right. When he sets his professionalism he will perform because he is a class player.”
Marcus Rashford (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Ahead of United clash against Crystal Palace, Ten Hag believes Rashford has shown the necessary resilience to bounce back from his setbacks.
I think every player who plays in the Premier League, but definitely in this club, you need some resilience,” he said.
“Not any football career is only the way up, you always go down. You have to deal with it. Marcus Rashford has also experienced, he knows when there are setbacks how to fight back, how to set his career, his performance. He took control of it and I think he is on the way back.
“He started the season very good now he has to continue and to progress.
“It’s very good, of course, that your striker… that they’re starting to score when the season is very young, strikers need that belief. Now we have a couple of players on the scoring list, it is very good for the team, strengthens their belief, they will go for more goals.”Hag
Ten Hag also believes Rashford should be in contention for Lee England national team squad next month, having missed out of EURO 2024. “I think he will always be an option for every manager, but it is not up to me,” said Ten Hag.
