Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has opened up on his decision to drop Marcus Rashford for tonight’s Premier League clash with Crystal Palace.
The England international has started to rediscover his best form in recent weeks following a difficult start to the campaign.
Rashford scored as United cruised to a 3-0 win over Southampton last week.
And he was also on target as the Red Devils thumped Barnsley 7-0 in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, too.
Marcus Rashford has been benched for the Premier League clash between Man Utd and Crystal Palace on Saturday night
PA
Ten Hag has, however, opted to leave Rashford on the bench for tonight’s showdown as he looks to secure a third win on the spin.
Andre Onana starts in goal, with the Cameroon international behind a back four featuring Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez and Diogo Dalot.
In midfield, Kobbie Mainoo, Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes get the nod.
And United have opted to go with Joshua Zirkzee up top, with Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho deployed on the flanks.
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Ten Hag, speaking before the fixture in the capital, says he’s left Rashford out of his starting XI because he feels he needs to ‘rotate’.
He said: “We need to rotate. No one can play all the games.
“Garnacho has had end product and he hasn’t started. He needs starts. Rotation is good.
“Is it difficult to bench Rashford? No, it’s not difficult because you have to rotate. Nobody can play every game and Garnacho also needs to start to continue to improve.”
Ten Hag then proceeded to praise Garnacho.
The 54-year-old added: “He [Garnacho] is very important, but he is not the only one. We need a lot of qualities, but obviously his ability to score.
“Rashford has it too. Hojlund, Zirkzee, Bruno [Fernandes] have it too. Don’t forget Amad who can score goals.”
Meanwhile, speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Ten Hag suggested ‘lifestyle’ problems for Rashford hampered his form last term.
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Marcus Rashford has been dropped for Man Utd’s clash with Crystal Palace despite scoring three goals in his last two matches
REUTERS
After scoring 30 goals in the 2022/23 season, Rashford netted just eight times last year.
And Ten Hag says the forward will only get back to his best if he looks after himself away from the pitch.
“I think he always knew. Every player knows, when your lifestyle is not right you can’t perform in the league we have to perform in,” he said.
“You don’t get the right levels if you don’t have a good and disciplined life away from Carrington.
Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag has gone with Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo instead of Marcus Rashford for tonight’s Premier League clash with Crystal Palace
REUTERS
“He needed some help, by backing him, for instance. But he has to do it himself, at the end of the day.
“He has to set his life right, his training attitude right, he has to set his match attitude right. When he sets his professionalism he will perform because he’s a class player.”