Glenn Hoddle has urged Marcus Rashford not to regret his ’12-hour tequila bender’ in Belfast and avoid his career ‘imploding’ by reconnecting with his ‘pure’ love of football.
The Manchester United star got into trouble last Friday after missing training after enjoying two nights out in the Northern Irish city.
Rashford, 26, told United he was feeling ill but teammates were furious when it emerged he had been partying in a nightclub until 2am.
United issued a statement on Monday saying Rashford had ‘taken responsibility’, but it remains to be seen how manager Erik ten Hag reintegrates him after the offense.
Rashford scored 30 goals during an excellent 2022/23 season, but managed just four this time around. He was also criticized by Ten Hag in October for partying on his 26th birthday after a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City.
Glenn Hoddle has urged Marcus Rashford ‘not to adopt the wrong habits’ after he was left out of Manchester United’s squad during a ’12-hour tequila bender’ in Belfast
Rashford was out in Belfast for two nights last week and called in sick for training on Friday
Former England boss Hoddle has warned Rashford to stay on track
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Ex-England manager Hoddle suggested Rashford is approaching a crossroads in a career that should be reaching its peak.
“He never gave me the impression that he was that type of guy, so I’m really surprised to see what’s wrong with him,” Hoddle told Mail Sport.
‘When he broke through at United (at the age of 18 in 2016), he clearly loved the game and surprised everyone. He was thrown into the deep end.
“A little advice from me would be to think back to the day he made his debut, when it was all still fresh and everything was still in front of you.
“Now, for whatever reason, he may be rebelling a little and not happy in some way.
“He has to think back to when it was pure, playing for United and it’s unbelievable, everything was right and he’ll take himself out of the mode he’s in.
‘Because there is a path where I can beat him, and that is in two or three years, when he is playing somewhere else, not at his best, and he implodes because he has the wrong habits and is in the wrong scenarios.
“It’s his choice, which one do you choose?” When he’s 31, he’ll look back and think, ‘What was I thinking?’
Hoddle urged Rashford to think back to when he burst onto the scene at Manchester United
Rashford was 18 when he scored twice on his United debut against Danish club Midtjylland
Drawing on his own time as a player at Tottenham, Hoddle reminded Rashford, who earns £350,000 a week at Old Trafford, how lucky he is.
“Ricky Villa and Ossie Ardiles in 1978, after winning the World Cup, were similar to how I was,” he said.
“It’s all about striving for your next gig, always being the best you can be, staying grounded and being humble.
‘Those boys were modest. They came as World Cup winners and never once talked about it. Great characters, people, great sense of humor and enjoyed a night out with us.
‘But they understood what it was to be a professional footballer and wanted to be the best they could be week in, week out.
“I was similar because I loved football and you are very lucky to be a footballer. There are millions and millions and millions of people doing jobs they hate.
Hoddle recalled the professionalism of Ossie Ardiles (pictured) and Ricky Villa, the Argentine World Cup winners, when he played with them at Tottenham
Rashford was reminded by a friend that he had training the next day but wanted to stay out
“To be paid the way they do today – and the way we did – we appreciated that.
“It’s not just about Marcus, this is the whole spectrum of young players, you have to look at that and understand that it’s not about what you did in football the year before – that’s history, it’s over – but it is about striving for your next match, next season, improving as a player and as a person.
‘I’m sure he will get through it and play well again because he has the talent.
“All I would like to say is appreciate the talent you have been given, you are a very lucky young man, don’t abuse the talent. You can go out as much as you want once you hang up your boots.”