“That's not right,” Erik ten Hag fumed at reaction to Manchester United's international call-up in defiant response
Erik ten Hag has responded defiantly to claims that Marcus Rashford was benched during Manchester United's draw at Crystal Palace over off-field matters.
Rashford has started every one of United's games this season and was expected to be selected for Saturday's game at Selhurst Park following his Carabao Cup double against Barnsley in midweek.
The striker came on as a substitute in the second half instead of Joshua Zirkzee but he could not help his team open the scoring.
His omission appeared to leave many baffled, including the Sky Sports pundit. Jamie Redknapp who could not understand why a player with goalscoring ability was not chosen.
“It seems like something strange has happened,” Redknapp said. “You don't leave out a player who has scored two goals in midweek and one against… Southampton“It seems like something happened this week.”
His sentiments were later echoed by Alan Shearer who provided a conspiracy theory of his own during an episode of The Rest is Football podcast.
When the idea of a possible disciplinary issue was raised, Shearer responded: “Why else would they leave him out?
“When you've been criticised for things, and I was one of them, for performances, but then you get your goal last weekend, you get another couple in the middle of the week.
“Why did they even consider leaving it out? I assume, and this is an assumption, that it has to be something different.”
Ten Hag was asked about Redknapp's claims during his press conference ahead of Wednesday's Europa League opener at home to FC Twente and offered a stern response.
The Manchester United manager said: “I don't understand the criticism. People have no right to speculate. If I give an explanation, they have to take my word for it. That's not right.”
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Questions arose after the Dutchman spoke about Rashford's lifestyle off the pitch, ahead of the trip to Crystal Palace.
The 26-year-old's form plummeted last season despite signing a new £300,000-a-week contract.
Rashford was banned by Ten Hag for missing training after being spotted in a Belfast nightclub following United's defeat in the Manchester derby in October.
Ten Hag was asked if Rashford could recapture the kind of form that saw him score 30 goals during the 2022/23 campaign.
Asked if Rashford had learned from his mistakes, Ten Hag said: “I think he always knew that, and every player knows that, because when your lifestyle is not right you cannot perform.
“You don’t get to the right levels when you don’t have a good, disciplined life away from Carrington.
“In the end, he has to do it on his own. He has to fix his life, his attitude in training and in matches. When he achieves professionalism, he will perform because he is a class player.
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“Marcus Rashford knows how to bounce back when there are setbacks, how to get his career back on track, his performances. He took control and I think he is getting back on track. He has started the season very well, now he has to continue and progress.”
Ahead of the clash with FC Twente, Ten Hag criticised UEFA's new league phase format that has been implemented across all three of its club competitions this season.
The clubs will play two extra games before the knockout stages and the United manager believes the renewal is an unwelcome addition.
“There are too many matches, too many competitions, that’s clear,” he said. “The players are overworked, that’s not good for football. Maybe it’s good for marketing.”
“As a club we cannot change this alone. It is about clubs, players and coaches. We have to work on this to improve the game and find the right balance. We are professionals and the income has to come, but we have to balance it.”
