Alan Shearer questions Marcus Rashford decision despite Erik ten Hag claim – as pundit hints at Man United disciplinary issue
Alan Shearer has suggested that Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag’s decision to bench Marcus Rashford against Crystal Palace must mean something has been going on behind the scenes.
Rashford was left on the bench for Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park despite scoring three times in the last two games.
Ten Hag claimed before the match that the decision was due to rotation, but Rashford eventually came on as a substitute after an hour with Man United chasing the opening goal.
The Man United manager has responded to claims from Sky Sports analyst Jamie Redknapp that the decision to omit Rashford from starting reflects a disciplinary issue, calling the suggestion “crazy”.
Redknapp highlighted Ten Hag’s comments during a pre-match press conference, with the Dutchman stressing the importance of Rashford maintaining the right lifestyle.
Marcus Rashford was benched for Man United against Crystal Palace on Saturday
Alan Shearer said the decision indicated something had happened behind the scenes
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag insisted Rashford be benched as part of the rotation
In the podcast Rest is Football, presenter Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer also questioned Ten Hag’s decision.
‘If I read between the lines, it seems like there are disciplinary problems because he (Ten Hag) already said that in his press conference: “Marcus has to be professional,”‘ Lineker said.
Shearer replied, “Why else would you leave him out of the equation?”
‘If there has been criticism, and I was one of them, about performances, but then you achieve your goal last week, and halfway through the week you get a few more.
“Why would you even think about letting him out? I think, and it’s a guess, it’s got to be something else.”
Ten Hag had raised the subject of Rashford’s lifestyle ahead of the match after being asked if the star player had returned to form, which saw him score 30 goals in his first season at Old Trafford.
The striker came off the bench on Saturday as Man United pushed for an opening goal
Rashford’s lifestyle was a topic of conversation ahead of the match against Crystal Palace
Rashford missed training after a 12-hour tequila party in Belfast and went to nightclubs after United lost the Manchester derby in October 2023
The 26-year-old’s performances had plummeted last season after signing a new £300,000-a-week contract, and he was criticised by Ten Hag for missing training after a 12-hour tequila binge in Belfast and for going to a nightclub after United’s Manchester derby defeat in October.
Ten Hag was asked if Rashford had learned from the experience.
He replied: ‘I think he always knew it, and every player knows it, because if your lifestyle is not good you cannot perform.
‘You don’t get to the right level if you don’t have a good, disciplined life outside of Carrington.
“Ultimately, he has to do it himself. He has to get his life in order, get his training attitude in order, get his match attitude in order. If he gets his professionalism in order, he will perform because he is a class player.
‘Marcus Rashford knows how to bounce back from adversity, how to define his career and his performances. He took control and I think he is on the way back. He has started the season very well, now he has to keep going and keep progressing.’
Redknapp claimed ‘something happened’ between Ten Hag and Rashford
After the draw against Crystal Palace, Ten Hag hit out at ‘speculation’ following Redknapp’s comments on Sky Sports.
“I’ve heard all the speculation (from) some experts,” Ten Hag said after the game. “That’s crazy. I would almost say that you’re not okay as a person if you bring up such speculation when you don’t know what’s (going on).
“This is just rotation. We have a lot of games to cover and more than 11 players, but we have to give all players their chances if they perform. Eventually we will find out and the players who perform better will play more.
‘But this has nothing to do (with Rashford). I am very happy with Marcus with everything – his defence, his attacking part. He is scoring at the moment, he is performing very well. So it has nothing to do with him being on the bench, only with the rotation.’