Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has denied any ulterior motive behind Marcus Rashford’s absence from the starting lineup against Crystal Palace, stating that it was simply a rotation decision. Despite Rashford finding his form with three goals in two previous games, Ten Hag chose to include Amad Diallo and Joshua Zirkzee in the lineup instead, moving Rashford and Antony to the bench.
During the match at Selhurst Park, United failed to convert their first-half pressure into goals, resulting in missed opportunities. Although Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund made appearances in the second half, they were unable to find the back of the net. The final whistle left a feeling of two points dropped rather than one gained for United.
Ten Hag’s decision regarding Rashford was met with questioning from both fans and pundits. Jamie Redknapp pondered whether there might be something happening behind the scenes that led to this choice during a discussion on Sky Sports.
In response to speculation about his decision, Ten Hag shut down any rumors by emphasizing that he was pleased with Marcus’ performance overall. He highlighted Rashford’s contributions both defensively and offensively while acknowledging his recent scoring record. The manager reiterated that his decision was solely based on rotation.
It is worth noting that during a pre-match press conference last week, Ten Hag had raised concerns about Rashford’s lifestyle affecting his form last season. He suggested that support and personal discipline were necessary for him to excel on the field.
Ten Hag concluded by emphasizing that ultimately it is up to Rashford himself to improve his professionalism and set things right in order for him to perform at his best level.
