Marcus Rashford dropped from Man United starting XI after Erik ten Hag crisis talks – Man united starting XI vs Chelsea finally Revealed
Erik ten Hag has dropped Marcus Rashford from his Manchester United starting XI to face Chelsea on Wednesday night.
Rashford has started all but one of United’s 14 Premier League games this season, but has been dropped to the bench following a poor performance in the 1-0 defeat by Newcastle on Saturday. Ten Hag is under huge pressure, with Mirror Football reporting on Monday that there is a divide among players in the dressing room.
The Dutchman has picked a front three of Rasmus Hojlund, Antony and Alejandro Garnacho to face Chelsea at Old Trafford. Rashford was substituted in the second half of United’s game at Newcastle on the weekend, despite the side needing a goal.
Ten Hag was visibly frustrated with Rashford when asked about his form by TNT Sports following the defeat at St James’ Park. “I talk with him about that, not with the media,” he said.
Adding his opinion on the game overall, Ten Hag claimed: “We had a tough first half and said at half-time we were pleased to be in the game… We will talk tomorrow with the team about it. We go back, we will talk about this and move in to Wednesday.”
Rashford enjoyed his best-ever goalscoring season for United in 2022/23, scoring 30 times across all competitions. But he has struggled this season, netting just twice in 18 games across all competitions.
Ten Hag desperately needs a result against Chelsea on Wednesday, with the defeat at Newcastle sparking a revolt in the dressing room. The Dutchman has lost 10 of his 21 games so far this season and is under pressure ahead of the arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
United sources have told Mirror Football that several players are unhappy with their current plight, with Ten Hag now facing a major battle to keep the majority of his squad onside. The club are seventh in the Premier League going into the Chelsea game, having taken just 24 points from 14 Premier League games so far.
Former United defender Steve Bruce has suggested there is a problem going on behind the scenes with Rashford and Ten Hag. “The body language of some of the players doesn’t look right,’ Bruce told Stadium Astro. “We’ve been talking now and the first one you look at is why all of a sudden Marcus Rashford, after how good he was, how good he played for England a few weeks ago, [has gone] to what you see now.
“Is he not happy playing on the right, what is wrong? We aren’t going to know what has happened behind the scenes if anything has happened. When he comes off, he shows that petulance, he is not happy. I think he needs to have a look at himself, to start with.
