Marcus Rashford has revealed why Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag benched him in United’s 1-0 win against Wolves on Saturday.
The Red Devils’ match-winner came off the bench to fire the winning goal in Manchester United’s 1-0 victory against Wolves after he was punished by Erik ten Hag for missing a team meeting.
The England forward, Rashford was a shock omission from United’s starting line-up in their 1-0 away victory at Wolves, before coming off the bench to fire the winning goal for Red Devils.
Marcus Rashford was banished to the bench ahead of United’s Premier League game against Wolves but would come on to score the winning goal and had a second goal denied; earning his side three points.
Meanwhile, after the match, Marcus Rashford revealed why he was scolded by the United boss Ten Hag saying he ‘overslept’ and was late for the morning team meeting.
However, having scored from the bench, and helping United to the fourth place in the league table seems the matter is over and done with.
Rashford revealed after the match that: “I was a little bit late for a meeting, I overslept, but it can happen.”
“It’s team rules, I made a mistake.
“I’m disappointed not to play but I understand the decision and I’m happy we managed to win anyway. We draw a line under it and move on.”
The decision to bench a player who has a very good reputation on and off the pitch has come as a shock, but it isn’t the first time the stringent United manager Ten Hag has taken a hard line.
The Dutch boss has compelled a rigid code of conduct on his players since he took over the saddle in the summer.
Alejandro Garnacho, who replaced Rashford on Saturday before making way for him at half-time was dropped on Manchester United’s pre-season tour of Bangkok and Australia for being late twice with team meetings.
Also, in October, the former United legendary goal scorer Cristiano Ronaldo was axed from the squad and fined after he refused to come on as a late substitute in United’s win over Tottenham and then stormed out of Old Trafford before full-time.
When quizzed about the decision on Rashford, Ten Hag admitted he was satisfied with Rashford’s response when he confirmed that his absence in the first half was due to ‘internal disciplinary’ reasons.
The Dutch manager said: “Everyone has to match the standards and the rules, so again there have to be consequences.”
‘‘On the pitch, there have to be consequences and I think he gave the right answer.”
‘‘I was not satisfied with the performance in the first half. We had good chances to score a goal. We created them and we have to be more clinical in front of the goal. We know Rashy can score the goals and he did that when he came on.’’
‘‘So it has to be. When you are out of the pitch and you miss the rules and standards, it will flow onto the pitch.’’
Manchester United defender Luke Shaw implied that discipline was not always quite as severe under Ten Hag’s predecessors Ralf Rangnick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Shaw backed the manager’s decision to bench Rashford as he believes it will resolve the issues of discipline that have diseased the team.
‘At a top club like this it has to be like that,’ said Shaw, who played on the left side of the central defense for the second game in a row.
As it stands, the Red Devils have overtaken Tottenham in fourth place in the Premier League and consequently, they have entered the Champions League places for the first time this season.
What’s next for Manchester United?
The Red Devils will hope to carry on with their impressive form back in the Premier League as they will be wanting to add to their points when they clash against Bournemouth on January 3rd.
