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Marcus Rashford is “unlikely to start out” for Manchester United in Saturday’s FA Cup last as his relationship with supervisor Erik ten Hag goes from unhealthy to worse.
That is based on Oliver Kay of The Athletic, who claims that “Rashford’s relationship with Ten Hag has turn into extra strained.”
The 26 yr outdated has endured a particularly disappointing season on the again of a golden one final time round that noticed him rating 30 targets in all competitions for United and appear to be a world beater.
Against this, this time period he has netted simply eight instances, two of which had been penalties.
The stress of expectation following the earlier marketing campaign and United’s horrific season have been cited as causes for his demise, however Kay factors out that “this was the fifth season out of 9 that he failed to succeed in double figures for Premier League targets — and his 4 double-figure tallies embrace a ten and an 11 in addition to two extra spectacular 17s.”
In different phrases, in solely two of 9 seasons has Rashford proven his greatest kind and true potential.
However so far as the connection with Ten Hag is anxious, the issues stem extra from off-field points and Rashford’s unwillingness to take instruction and shoulder defensive duties, Kay says.
An ill-timed ingesting binge in Belfast “left Ten Hag feeling let down” and has “not been forgotten”.
As well as, “the supervisor has been pissed off by the participant’s lack of conviction and consistency with the ball — together with in areas the place he was excelling final season — and by a perceived lack of defensive self-discipline with out it,” Kay explains.
“Ten Hag locations significance on how his attacking gamers carry out out of possession, as the primary line of defence… Rashford’s absence from the beginning line-up in current weeks displays concern about his off-the-ball work as a lot as his purpose return.”
With a 5 yr, £300,000 per week deal beneath his belt, Rashford appears unlikely to maneuver on whether or not he or United need him to or not. Barring a tremendous efficiency within the FA Cup last, even outdated suitors like Paris Saint-Germain could be unlikely to cough up the £70 million or so required by United nor match that exorbitant wage after the season Rashford has had.
Kay’s level about solely two in 9 seasons having produced a powerful output additionally suggests {that a} change in supervisor this summer time could be unlikely to have a lot bearing on how the Wythenshawe man performs subsequent time round. No matter whether or not the connection with Ten Hag is strained or not, Rashford has been simply as inconsistent beneath different managers as he has beneath the Dutchman.
Gareth Southgate’s determination yesterday to depart him out of the provisional England squad for Euro 2024 means that he, too, doesn’t really feel assured that he can deliver the perfect out of the participant. Certainly, it suggests he doesn’t assume the issue lies with Ten Hag or United.
After all, there could also be a supervisor, or coach, or sport psychologist who can persistently deliver the perfect out of Marcus Rashford. However in the end it appears as if the one one that can discover that key would be the participant himself.
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