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Erik ten Hag assured that he would address the issue of Marcus Rashford’s absence, as the English forward was unable to play in Manchester United’s 4-2 win against Newport in the FA Cup.
Rashford informed of being unwell on Friday after allegedly spending the previous night at a nightclub in Belfast.
“He reported ill,” United boss Ten Hag said after watching his side survive a massive fright in South Wales as League Two Newport fought back to 2-2 after conceding twice inside the opening 13 minutes.
“The remaining issue is an internal affair. I will handle it, and we will address it together.”
Upon his arrival at United in 2022, Ten Hag noted the presence of a negative culture and has since faced disciplinary problems during his time at Old Trafford.
Jadon Sancho, who had become a misfit at Manchester United, recently went back to Borussia Dortmund on a loan deal after a disagreement with the team’s manager.
When asked about Rashford possibly being another manifestation of the “bad culture”, Ten Hag declined to comment. He stated that they had previously discussed the issue and now they are focusing on moving forward after a good game.
Match of the Day commentator Alan Shearer urged for a prompt resolution to any problem in order to prevent Rashford’s abilities from being “wasted”.
Former England captain stated that Marcus Rashford possesses great talent, however, he was disciplined last season for being late to a meeting, which resulted in him missing a game.
“Clearly, there is an issue either at home or within his relationship with the football club. This behavior cannot continue as it is a waste of his talent. It is unacceptable and he requires strong guidance and management to realize the potential consequences of his actions.”
You cannot possess that and it is unnecessary. It requires organization and needs to be done immediately – 30 goals in the previous season and only four in the current season.
“When observing his performance, it often appears as though he carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. As someone with such great talent, it is crucial for him to address this issue promptly. He must not squander his potential.”
United quickly took control of the game against their opponents, who were 76 spots lower in the hierarchy. Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo, scoring his first goal at the senior level, delivered impressive shots.
Bryn Morris and Will Evans both scored goals before and after halftime, putting United at risk of being defeated by a surprising underdog team. However, Antony and Rasmus Hojlund saved the day with goals in the final quarter.
Ten Hag stated that in the first 35 minutes, his team showed dominance and did not allow the opponent any opportunities. He believes that they should have scored three, four, or even five goals during this time.
“Out of nothing they score a goal and straight after half-time again.
We need to evaluate and address shortcomings in our defense during transition. The subpar defense during the cross led to a tie score of 2-2, and the opposing team was able to take the lead.
“We displayed our resilience by remaining composed and returning to our game plan, ultimately achieving our goal with the third and fourth scores. Therefore, we can consider the job completed.”
Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw all returned to the starting line-up following their injuries. Harry Maguire also made a late appearance, marking his first game since December 12.
Ten Hag commented, “I am familiar with the players Licha (Martinez), Casemiro, Luke Shaw, (Raphael) Varane, Bruno, Antony, (Alejandro) Garnacho, and Hojlund. They are all strong competitors.”
“At times, one may find themselves in such a predicament. While the initial pitch may have been poor, we were able to completely outperform them for 35 minutes.”
Newport defied expectations with a determined showing, showcasing some impressive offensive moments despite their low ranking of 16th in the fourth division.
Graham Coughlan, the manager of Exiles, shared that Ten Hag had gifted him with “a lovely small bottle of red wine” following the match. He also confessed that he had been considering a significant upset when United was caught off guard.
Coughlan stated that at a score of two-all, he was daydreaming. He also acknowledged that they put themselves in a difficult position in the first 10 or 15 minutes.
It is not possible to begin a game of football in that manner against such a high level of opponent.
“We were dealt a tough blow, as they executed their plays flawlessly. In just the first 10 or 15 minutes, we gained a valuable understanding of the intensity of the Premiership.”
Unfortunately, United’s late performance resulted in County missing out on a potentially profitable rematch. Coughlan stated, “It was a shame that we were unable to reach our ultimate goal and return to Old Trafford for the final.”
I believed we had equalized the score at two points each. They were unsettled. They could have been defeated, which is an unusual statement for a League Two manager to make.
“However, the talent of the Premier League was evident, and United deserves all the recognition.”
Source: independent.co.uk
