Erik ten Hag deems Marcus Rashford’s birthday celebration “unacceptable” following Man Utd’s loss in the derby
Rashford Apologizes for Unacceptable Birthday Celebrations Following Manchester United’s Loss
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has expressed his apologies after facing criticism for celebrating his birthday just hours after the team’s disappointing 3-0 defeat to local rivals Manchester City. The event, which took place last Sunday night at one of Manchester’s exclusive nightspots, was pre-planned and did not affect Rashford’s attendance at training on Monday.
United manager Erik ten Hag referred to the situation as “unacceptable” and stated that he had spoken with Rashford about it. However, Ten Hag did not disclose any details regarding potential fines or disciplinary actions, deeming it an internal matter.
Ten Hag made clear his dissatisfaction with the optics of Rashford being seen partying following such a lackluster performance by the team. This is not the first time Ten Hag has reprimanded the England international; in fact, on New Year’s Eve last year, Rashford found himself benched during a Premier League game against Wolves due to tardiness.
The scrutiny surrounding Ten Hag intensifies as he attempts to motivate his squad amidst their worst start to a season since 1962-63. Some may interpret this recent incident as an indication that Ten Hag is struggling to get through to his players; however, he strongly denies this notion while acknowledging that mistakes can happen.
Rashford’s form this season also raises concerns given his exceptional performance last year when he scored 30 goals. As of now, he has only managed one goal for United against Arsenal back in September. A similar dip in form occurred two years ago when he scored just five times throughout the season.
Ten Hag emphasizes the importance of Rashford being positioned closer to the opponents’ goal, as that is where his talents shine. He believes that getting Rashford into those crucial areas, both individually and collectively as a team, will contribute significantly to their success. Ten Hag remains optimistic about Rashford’s ability to bounce back and regain his form.