Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag urges Marcus Rashford to reclaim starting spot

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has urged Marcus Rashford to reclaim his spot in the starting XI and backed the forward to find form after his horrid campaign so far.

Rashford has experienced a significant dip in form during the 2023-24 season. Despite his talent and previous successes, Rashford’s performance on the pitch has been underwhelming. Throughout the season, he has managed to score only three goals – two for Manchester United against Arsenal and Everton in the Premier League, and one for England. This is a stark contrast to the previous season when he scored 30 times across all competitions.

Rashford’s struggles are not limited to his goal-scoring abilities. His overall contribution to the team has been lacking; he’s creating fewer chances, not just for himself but also for his teammates. Moreover, his defensive work rate has been criticized, with observations that he is not tracking back or supporting the defense as expected. This lack of effort is particularly noticeable when Manchester United faces stronger teams, where Rashford’s performance could make a significant difference.

The forward’s body language on the field has also been described as ‘shocking’ by fans and critics. Ultimately, Rashford was dropped from the lineup for the win over Chelsea and came on as a substitute late on.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the Bournemouth game, as quoted by Reuters, Ten Hag hailed Rashford as an incredibly good player and backed him to find form.

The Dutch tactician also said that it was up to Rashford to reclaim his spot in the side.

“Rashford is an incredibly good player. You can’t do it with 11 players and he can’t play every game. He’s not in the form he was last year but I’m sure he will get there,” he said.

“It’s up to the players (to get back into the team). The team will line themselves up and the best players who form the best team will play.”