Erik ten Hag Defends Marcus Rashford Amid Scrutiny

Manchester United's manager, Erik ten Hag, faced scrutiny after benching Marcus Rashford during a goalless draw against Crystal Palace, despite Rashford's recent scoring success. Ten Hag dismissed speculation of a rift between him and Rashford, labeling such conjecture from pundits as 'crazy' and attributing the decision to squad rotation. He emphasized that Rashford's recent improved form, scoring three goals in two matches, demonstrated his potential return to top performance. Previous off-field issues and lifestyle choices had affected Rashford's performance last season, leading to criticism from Ten Hag. However, Ten Hag expressed confidence in Rashford's upward trajectory, underscoring the importance of professionalism in his career. United's inability to convert chances against Palace raises concerns about their finishing, despite a strong first-half performance.