Ten Hag admits Man Utd star Rashford could need a "kick in the a**"
Erik ten Hag hopes that “a kick up the a**" will kick start Marcus Rashford ’s stuttering season into life against Liverpool.
The Manchester United manager knows he can’t afford any shrinking violets in the heat of Anfield with last season’s 7-0 capitulation still hurting for anyone of an Old Trafford persuasion. Rashford divides opinions amongst United fans, some believing he is a mercurial talent while others are growing exasperated with his apparent mood swings leading to subdued performances.
Ten Hag appeared to acknowledge the concerns over the 26-year-old England international, who is back in action after illness kept him out of the Champions League exit against Bayern Munich in midweek. Asked whether the forward needed an arm around the shoulder or a kick up the backside he replied: “I think for almost any player it’s an arm around the shoulder, sometimes a kick in the a**.
"It can make a difference in the management which approach you are taking, a kick in the a** or an arm around the shoulder.” The wry smile suggested the latter – and for Rashford’s critics not before time with just three goals so far this season in 26 games for club and country.
His attitude was questioned after being substituted in a recent 1-0 defeat against Newcastle with ex-United players Roy Keane and Steve Bruce believing his body language left a lot to be desired. What Ten Hag, who is coming under his own pressure, would do to have last season’s Rashford who scored 30 goals and won back his England place.
Marcel Sabitzer completes Man Utd transfer after last-minute deadline day dash
A radio reporter from Ten Hag’s native Holland wondered why the manager’s Dutch followers were seeing a different more complex character than when he was in charge of Ajax and whether he could guarantee he would still be in a job after the Liverpool game.
(AFP via Getty Images)HAVE YOUR SAY: How should Ten Hag deal with Rashford? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Ten Hag replied: “I’m not concerned about that. I want to win, I want to win with my team, progress the team in the right direction. We are here in a project. Last season we were heading in the right direction. This season we haven’t met the standards we expect to have. That’s the truth. We have had a set back.
“I think the future for Manchester United is very good if you see how many good players we have in the squad, how many good young players who have really high potential to play at a top level worldwide. I am sure when the injured players come back this team will perform better.”
He insists that he has a squad which can deliver teams capable of winning every game. The facts state otherwise. It’s now 12 defeats in 24 games in all competitions.
But Ten Hag added: “I see the quality on the training pitch, but the only moment they have to prove it is in the games themselves. And this team have proved it in certain games, when they have been under high pressure, and played very good football.
“Yes, they have also had lows…so there have been high highs and low lows. As a team we have to become more consistent.”
He has blocked all the noise about Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s coming on board to run the football operation and possibly planning on removing the Dutchman.
Asked if he had spoken to any representatives of Ratcliffe’s company INEOS he revealed: “No. There are others dealing with the strategic review so I’m just waiting. I’m focusing on my job which is performing with the team and developing the team.”
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
