Erik ten Hag asserts that Marcus Rashford remains highly motivated to play for Manchester United despite criticism of his performance in Thursday’s 4-3 loss to Chelsea.
Rashford, who was initially benched for the game, faced scrutiny after footage of a specific moment during his 24-minute appearance circulated on social media. In the clip, the 26-year-old appears to jog and fails to press Chelsea as they advance in search of an equalizer.
Addressing the criticism aimed at Rashford, Ten Hag staunchly defended the forward’s commitment to the club.
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“I believe his recent form is on an upward trajectory, and the timing will always be opportune,” Ten Hag stated. “He possesses significant motivation because he is driven to succeed with us. He strives to score goals, win trophies, and make meaningful contributions. With our continued involvement in the FA Cup and the pursuit of a Champions League spot, coupled with the impending Euros, his motivation should remain high. Form is transient, and Rashford has the ability to alter the momentum. Prior to the Brentford match, he scored three goals in three games.”
Even before the match, Rashford faced scrutiny from United legends Gary Neville and Rio Ferdinand. Neville expressed concerns about Rashford’s happiness, while Ferdinand suggested that a move away from Manchester might be necessary.
In response to these comments, Rashford’s brother and agent, Dwaine Maynard, took to social media to criticize Neville and Ferdinand’s remarks.
“I understand the nature of podcasts and their purpose, but if you genuinely have concerns, reach out directly,” Maynard wrote. “We are acquainted or have crossed paths before. Publicly airing such concerns for the sake of garnering opinions is disingenuous and merely clickbait in my opinion.”