Marcus Rashford has apparently ‘taken responsibility’ for his ill-advised night out in Belfast before calling in sick for Manchester United training.
The £325,000-a-week England international was ‘clearly on a mission to get drunk’, according to accounts of his tequila night, and fell into bed fully clothed.
While Rashford’s teammates are angry about his behaviour, manager Erik ten Hag appears determined to draw a line under the matter as United play at Wolves on Thursday.
“Marcus has taken responsibility for his actions. This was handled as an internal disciplinary matter, which has now been closed,” a United statement said.
The handling of Rashford’s offense has inevitably drawn comparisons to the way United’s legendary boss Sir Alex Ferguson would have handled the matter.
Legendary Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson took a no-tolerance approach to players who undermined his authority by indulging in drunken nights out
England star Marcus Rashford found himself in trouble at United after calling in sick last Thursday and missing training after a night out in Belfast
Rashford was seen entering a nightclub late at night and reportedly asked if there were any clubs that would stay open past 3am if he paid them enough money.
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During his 27 years in charge at Old Trafford, Ferguson had to deal with players who couldn’t resist a drunken night out on a number of occasions.
One difference now is that Ferguson’s United were a title and trophy-winning force for so long, with such late-night activities potentially threatening their superiority.
Even in Ferguson’s final season, as he prepared to announce his retirement, his standards were sky-high, as two unnamed players in his squad on a night out would discover.
Dutch striker Robin van Persie, who was their leading goalscorer in the 2012-13 season in question, recalled Ferguson’s new method of getting his point across.
He told ZoVoet in a 2020 interview: ‘Coach Ferguson, he knew when it was necessary to take action, for example when it was necessary to apply pressure with the discipline.
‘During my first season we were 15 points clear in the league and hosted Manchester City to win the title (in April 2013). If we won this match we would be 18 points ahead, but we lost (2-1).
‘That still left us with a 12-point lead, so most managers wouldn’t have dramatized the situation.
‘The boss, on the other hand, was absolutely furious. It was really hot.
Ex-United striker Robin van Persie told how Ferguson humiliated two players on a night out during a Premier League title clash
“Two guys on the team were out after that loss and the day after the game he taped pictures of the two players on their night out on the locker room walls.
“Ferguson then said in front of the entire team, ‘Okay guys, if we don’t win the championship, just know that it’s because of these two assholes who chose to go out.’
Van Persie refused to identify the two miscreants, but added: ‘They were destroyed by the coach, but he stayed in the dressing room.
“It was incredible, he had pasted a lot of pictures, we had the evening of the two players from hour to hour – 2am, 3am, 4am – as if to show the extent of their stupidity underline.
‘He didn’t stop there and he warned us all: ‘Guys, listen, if we don’t win the championship, it’s because these two decided to go out and have fun. From now on, if I see a player go before we lift the trophy, that player is out.”
‘He was merciless. “I don’t care who you are, how many trophies you have won so far. If you leave before the end of the season, you will be out of the team and I will transfer you.”
Van Persie was referring to the 2012-13 title battle, when United were defeated 2-1 by rivals Man City
City’s victory at Old Trafford kept the title race alive and Ferguson was outraged when two of his players decided to go out afterwards
United eventually won the title, their 13th under Ferguson, by a comfortable margin of 11 points
‘After that speech we went to training and they were the two hardest training sessions of my life. 12 points ahead and that was his response.
‘A manager must sense when to be tough and when to take the pressure off. This time of season was ideal to make a rant and Sir Alex didn’t miss the opportunity.’
Fortunately for the two involved, United sealed the title with a 3-0 win over Aston Villa, thanks to Van Persie’s hat-trick, a few weeks later and ultimately finished eleven points ahead of City.
With Ferguson set to retire at the end of that campaign, he is not following through on his threat to sell those who stepped out of line.
Ten Hag’s United can only dream of being in such a strong position at the table. They sit eighth ahead of a packed midweek schedule, some 16 points behind leaders Liverpool.