Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has denied there was anything other than “rotation” in Marcus Rashford’s omission from the starting line-up against Crystal Palace.
After a slow start to the season, Rashford hit form with three goals in two games against Southampton and Barnsley. But Ten Hag opted to bring Amad Diallo and Joshua Zirkzee into the line-up for the trip to Palace, moving Rashford and Antony to the bench.
united they couldn’t make the first-half pressure count at Selhurst Park as a number of chances went begging. Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund appeared in the second half, but a goal never came and it looked like a case of two points lost instead of one point won at the final whistle.
Ten Hag decision Rashford it was quickly questioned by fans and pundits alike. turned on Sky SportsJamie Redknapp pondered whether something had happened behind the scenes that led to this.
“There are already speculations. Pundits. As a person, you’re not good if you carry these speculations when you don’t know (the situation),” Ten Hag told reporters after the final whistle.
“That had nothing to do with (the pregame press conference). I’m very happy with Marcus. His defense and his offensive assignments. He’s scoring right now. It was just rotation.”
During the pre-match press conference, Have Hag had questioned Rashford’s lifestyle as the reason for a well-publicised slump in form last season.
“He probably needed help, supporting him for example,” the boss said last week. “At the end of the day, he has to do it himself. He has to get his life right, his training attitude, his match attitude. When he establishes his professionalism he will act because he is a class player.
“I think he always knew that, and all the players know that, because when your lifestyle isn’t right, you can’t perform. You don’t achieve the right levels when you don’t have a good, disciplined life away from Carrington.”
