Published on 29.01.2024
Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, has addressed Marcus Rashford’s absence from their FA Cup fourth-round victory at Newport and referred to it as an “internal matter”.
The England forward was unable to attend training at United on Friday due to illness. However, there have been media reports suggesting that Rashford was spotted in nightspots in Northern Ireland on both Wednesday and Thursday evenings.
🚨💣| Marcus Rashford is facing a £650,000 fine, equivalent to two weeks' wages, for his absence from training, citing illness, despite being seen at a nightclub on the same night. [@TheSunFootball] pic.twitter.com/rW2m5C3eWW
— Football Talk (@FootballTalkHQ) January 29, 2024
Ten Hag stated during a post-match news conference on Sunday that Rashford had reported ill and that the rest of the situation would be dealt with internally. When questioned about why an illness report would be considered an internal matter, Ten Hag simply reiterated his previous statement. He emphasized that it is indeed an internal matter for him to handle.
When asked if this raises more questions than answers, Ten Hag responded by saying it might raise questions for others but not for him. He reiterated once again that he will deal with the situation internally along with his team.
Alan Shearer, a former Newcastle and England forward who spoke on BBC One, suggested that considering this as an internal matter indicates something may be amiss.
“There is an immense amount of talent within Rashford. We witnessed his discipline last season when he was tardy for a meeting and consequently missed a game. However, something is evidently amiss, either in his personal life or in his relationship with the football club, because this behavior cannot continue.
“It would be unjustifiable for him to squander his talent, which is why he requires strong management and someone to guide him. They need to emphasize the importance of avoiding future regrets as he progresses throughout his career.”
During the previous season, Rashford scored an impressive 30 goals across various competitions for Manchester United and subsequently secured a new contract with his beloved childhood club during the summer.
Nonetheless, this term has seen him only manage four goals thus far. Furthermore, former United captain Roy Keane and ex-Tottenham midfielder Jamie Redknapp criticized Rashford’s recent celebration after scoring in the 2-2 draw against Tottenham.
