- Marcus Rashford had a difficult 2023-24 campaign, scoring just eight goals
- The forward’s difficult season on the pitch was accompanied by problems off the pitch.
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Erik ten Hag has praised Marcus Rashford for being “committed, ambitious and motivated” to put last season’s poor form behind him and backed him to turn the page in today’s Community Shield at Wembley.
Rashford scored 30 goals in Ten Hag’s first season at the club and was rewarded with a new £300,000-a-week contract.
But the 26-year-old struggled for much of last season, on and off the pitch, so much so that England overlooked him for Euro 2024.
But Ten Hag has liked what he has seen from Rashford during pre-season and feels he has the glint in his eye to right the wrongs of last season, when he managed just eight goals.
“We all saw Rashy on tour and he was in very good spirits and in very good shape,” Ten Hag said.
Erik ten Hag has claimed that Marcus Rashford is willing to right the wrongs of last season
Rashford had a dismal campaign, as a drop in form was accompanied by off-field problems.
“We expect a lot, as we expect from the whole team this season.”
Pressed on Rashford’s mentality and whether off-field issues might still be on his mind after such a tumultuous time following a tequila binge in Belfast last season, Ten Hag dismissed the idea.
“There are a lot of suggestions around Manchester United,” he said. “We know the truth. They are working very hard, very well, very committed, very ambitious and motivated to have a good season.”
Former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy arrived in the summer as one of Ten Hag’s new assistant coaches and will be expected to bring Rashford back to his best.
The 26-year-old is expected to start on the left of United’s attack against Manchester City today, with Jadon Sancho being used through the middle while Rasmus Hojlund remains sidelined.
Summer signing Joshua Zirkzee has only had three training sessions with his team-mates but has travelled to Wembley and is in with a chance of featuring.
Rashford scored just eight league goals and was left out of England’s Euro 2024 squad
Ten Hag insisted that the striker is “committed, ambitious and motivated” ahead of the new season.
After a season in which Rashford was under a lot of attention both on and off the pitch, he has worked hard over the summer to get his mind right and recently revealed how puzzles help him focus.
“I think more when I’m in season, doing puzzles and little games to keep myself active,” Rashford said during the US tour.
‘I have a couple at home waiting for me, so I’ll start working on them when I get back. I’ve tried a 3D one. But it’s difficult. It’s complicated. It takes longer.
‘And if my dog interrupts me and starts eating pieces, I’m going to get even more frustrated!
‘I’ve only done one 3D one though. Most of it was just a thousand pieces. I think it was a car. Like I said, it was hard. I almost gave up. But it was my mom, actually… she said if I didn’t finish it, I’d get beaten up, so I had to finish it… after about three weeks!’
