Man United manager Erik ten Hag has blamed Manchester United star for Draw against Crystal Palace. He’s been ruthless here!
Manchester United’s manager, Erik ten Hag, didn’t mince words when criticizing Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp for his comments about Marcus Rashford. Redknapp had implied that Rashford was left out of the starting lineup as a form of punishment, a claim Ten Hag found unacceptable. The issue surfaced after Rashford, who had been in great form, was benched during United’s 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace, raising questions among fans and analysts alike.
Ten Hag, however, clarified before the match that Rashford’s absence was purely down to squad rotation, not discipline. With the team’s heavy schedule, he emphasized the need to give other players, like Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo, a chance to shine. Ten Hag had stated that his decision was based on managing the squad and ensuring player freshness, dismissing any notion of off-field issues. However, Redknapp suggested otherwise, speculating about potential problems behind the scenes, which Ten Hag later strongly refuted.
In his post-match conference, Ten Hag expressed frustration over such baseless speculation, particularly from commentators like Redknapp, saying, “It’s absurd to make such assumptions without knowing the facts.” He reiterated that Rashford’s omission was strictly a tactical rotation, a strategy he believes is essential for managing the squad over the course of a long season.
Ten Hag also praised Rashford’s performances, both defensively and offensively, insisting the player remains in excellent form. He emphasized that the decision to rotate had nothing to do with dissatisfaction and everything to do with keeping players like Garnacho and Diallo, who had also been performing well, involved in the squad.
This isn’t the first time Ten Hag has confronted pundits over comments about Rashford. Weeks earlier, he took issue with Alan Shearer for his criticism of the striker on BBC’s *Match of the Day*, highlighting the ongoing tension between the manager and football commentators.
During the game, United had several chances to take the lead, with two shots hitting the crossbar and Crystal Palace’s goalkeeper, Dean Henderson, making crucial saves. Despite United’s dominance in the first half, they failed to convert their opportunities, allowing Palace to grow into the game and create chances of their own in the second half. Ten Hag acknowledged the team’s lack of clinical finishing but maintained that the overall performance was strong.
As debate continues around Ten Hag’s decision to rotate the squad, the manager remains resolute, insisting that managing the team’s workload is crucial for long-term success. Despite external criticism, his focus remains on maintaining the squad’s balance and ensuring each player gets the opportunity to contribute.
