Marcus Rashford only has himself to blame as ‘unhappy’ Manchester Utd star faces more bench time
Marcus Rashford could face an extended spell out in the cold at Old Trafford after Manchester United rediscovered their hunger without him on Wednesday evening. The England wing was left looking on from the sidelines by United manager Erik ten Hag until the last six minutes as his team produced one of their liveliest performances of the season to beat Chelsea 2-1.
The concern for Rashford, who has scored just twice in 19 appearances for United this season, is that bench duty alongside fellow fall guy Anthony Martial could become a regular beat.
He [Ten Hag] put the right players on the pitch and United fans won’t understand if that same team doesn’t play the next game,” former United defender Patrice Evra told Amazon Prime. “I will understand if it’s an injury, but I think it will be tough for Marcus and Martial to come back in the starting XI.
“[Alejandro] Garnacho had an amazing game, Antony had an amazing game and the work ethic… you can have nothing negative to say about those players, so I hope this team will stay. It’s going to be tough for Marcus and Martial and they will have to fight to get their places back because the kids played very well.”
Ten Hag put Rashford’s omission against Chelsea down to rotation but it was the first time he has been left out of a Premier League or Champions League match this season except for suspension or illness. In comparison to their last game against Newcastle when Rashford started but was criticised for failing to track back, United found a lot more energy.
“I don’t think the players go out with the intention of not trying – that doesn’t happen – but I think Rashford has slipped back into the mindset that he had prior to last season, he doesn’t look happy,” Hughes told William Hill’s No Tippy Tappy Football podcast.
Rashford is an outstanding talent and is one of the best in the league when it comes to taking someone on, but without the ball, he’s probably one of the worst. He’s got to sort that part out.”
United face Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Saturday in their next Premier League game with Ten Hag likely to stick with an unchanged team.
