16 February 2024 , 12:39
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Erik ten Hag acted like Sir Alex Ferguson in the way he handled Marcus Rashford's absence from training, says Gary Pallister.
Rashford was left out of Manchester United's squad for the FA Cup win over Newport County for what Ten Hag labelled an ' internal matter ' after the forward missed training. The 26-year-old called in sick on the Friday ahead of the game, after it emerged he had been at a nightclub in Belfast just hours earlier.
In the aftermath, Ten Hag acknowledged that 'when you want to play top football, it demands a certain way of life. Always'. However, after Rashford took responsibility for his actions, the Red Devils welcomed him back into the starting line-up and the striker returned to open the scoring in United's 4-3 win over Wolves.
Pallister believes Ten Hag dealt with things in the correct way in responding to Rashford's error. The 58-year-old also compared the action to how Ferguson dealt with David Beckham following an indiscretion.
Former United defender Pallister told The Winners Enclosure, who provide the latest Cheltenham tips: "The gaffer left Beckham out for a game against Leeds because he went to London. He wasn’t out drinking but he didn’t like players travelling long distances before games as he thought that would tire them out.
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"Becks had done that, there wasn’t any drink involved but he left him out of the team; so i think that’s the way the gaffer dealt with it back then.
"Football changes, but from our rules he didn’t break the rules of going out because it was three nights before the game; but if you do that you can’t not turn up for training and that’s the mistake Marcus made.
Marcus Rashford impressed on his return to action at Wolves (Marc Atkins/Getty Images)"I thought the punishment of a fine and leaving him out of that next game was enough. It’s been dealt with by Erik ten Hag and the team.
"It’s a bit of a storm in a teacup, I guess it’s on the back of his slow start to the season; so he’s up there to be shot at really."
Rashford has started three matches after being forced to sit out with his strike against Wolves proving his only goal contribution in three wins. The Carrington product has recorded five goals and six assists this term as he's struggled to repeat the 41 goal contributions from Ten Hag's first season in charge.
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