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Marcus Rashford of the 2023-24 season looks like a completely different Marcus Rashford to the one of the 2022-23 season. And not in a good way.
The man who was carrying Manchester United on his shoulders for the large majority of last season has looked a shadow of himself, recording only 7 goals and 4 assists across all competitions.
One of the reasons reported as to why this is the case is allegedly his breakdown in relationship with current manager Erik ten Hag.
Rashford made headlines when he was spotted partying in Northern Ireland before calling in sick for training. Missing the subsequent FA Cup game against Newport County, manager ten Hag said that the matter would be sorted internally. Many saw this incident as a way that the England forward was showing his displeasure at the club.
Now, the Rashford-ten Hag saga has slumped to new lows according to The Athletic.
With news emerging that Marcus Rashford has been left out of the provisional England Euros 2024 squad, the publication writes that “the manager has been frustrated by the player’s lack of conviction and consistency with the ball — including in areas where he was excelling last season — and by a perceived lack of defensive discipline without it.
“Ten Hag places importance on how his attacking players perform out of possession, as the first line of defence.
“Rashford’s absence from the starting line-up in recent weeks reflects concern about his off-the-ball work as much as his goal return.
“Like most of United’s senior players, Rashford was recently invited to a private one-to-one meeting with Sir Dave Brailsford, head of sport at INEOS, whose owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has bought a 25 per cent stake in the club. Brailsford’s intention was to explain the INEOS vision and to get a clearer understanding of the landscape before what is expected to be a summer of change at Old Trafford.
“It is known that Rashford’s relationship with Ten Hag has become more strained, but it is unclear what feedback he or any other player gave, whether about his own form, the manager, or anything else.”
With the FA Cup final against Manchester City around the corner, it doesn’t make great reading that the relationship between the club’s highest earner and the manager is seemingly deteriorating.
United fans will be hoping that Marcus Rashford can, regardless of where he’s personally at with ten Hag, show some of the form that was on display last season to help get another trophy back to Old Trafford as well as stop rivals City from completing a domestic double.
Manchester City don’t need help at the best of times, so ensuring that everyone within the Manchester United camp are pulling in the same direction will be key when the teams make their way out at Wembley on Saturday afternoon.
