‘You will play in Saudi League’ Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag, has brushed aside criticism from Cristiano Ronaldo that he lacks ambition
Ronaldo this week, reignited his war of words with Ten Hag, by saying no United manager should say his team cannot lift the Premier League or Champions League title.
But Ten Hag, speaking with reporters today, suggested that Ronaldo is out of touch with events at Old Trafford as he is playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
“He said that, that Manchester United can’t win the Premier League.
“He said this if you read the article very well.
“He is far away in Saudi, far away from Manchester, so everyone can have an opinion and is entitled to have an opinion, it is okay,” Ten Hag said.
Marcus Rashford is attempting to recapture his form and some Manchester United fans are becoming frustrated with him.
United players during the Community Shield
United players during the Community Shield
Manchester United fans expressed their dismay at Erik ten Hag’s decision to keep Marcus Rashford on the pitch and substitute Alejandro Garnacho against Liverpool.
Garnacho was replaced by Amad in the second half and boos echoed around Old Trafford, with fans seemingly wanting Rashford to be substituted instead.
Rashford contributed just eight goals in all competitions last term and suffered a confidence crisis, which led to suggestions he might have to leave to breathe new life into his career.
The academy graduate will celebrate his 27th birthday in October and must produce better numbers this season, but Ten Hag has insisted he’s happy with his performances and the possibility of selling Rashford in the summer transfer window never gained any momentum.
Although Rashford is the poster boy of the club and is one of the highest earners in the squad, there is a conversation growing around whether it would be best for him to depart.
With that in mind, our writers have given their thoughts on Rashford, his current situation and what might come next for him after this season…
Tyrone Marshall
This season was always make-or-break for Rashford and that remains the case. On the contract he has signed he has to be one of the club’s most important players and if he isn’t he has to be sold this summer.
His season has started slowly but he isn’t alone on that front and the criticism he got against Liverpool was harsh. He was more productive than Garnacho and created two good chances for Joshua Zirkzee, at least one of which he should have scored. He frustrated fans when he turned away from a duel with Ibrahima Konate, but that was probably a wise decision given he didn’t have a lot of support.
He does have a fight on his hands to keep his place, however. Garnacho is now back in the starting XI and Amad has been impressive since the back end of last season. Three into two doesn’t go and Rashford could easily find himself on the bench.
If that happens then it will be down to Rashford to work his way back into the team. It’s only two seasons ago he got 30 goals in a campaign. That looks increasingly like a one-off, but 20 is an attainable target.
Steven Railston
I was in favour of keeping Rashford this summer. He has been the biggest academy success story for 20 years and something has gone massively wrong if he must leave to find his groove again.
Unfortunately, that outcome doesn’t look too far off and if Rashford doesn’t produce this season, then it will be the best option to cash in on him and reluctantly move on.
Rashford is unstoppable when he’s at his best and his finishing in 2022/23 was brilliant – he scored 30 goals – but his inconsistency has prevented him from being regarded as world-class.
After a majorly disappointing 12 months, it’s down to Rashford to get his career back on track and hopefully he can do that at United, but it will be time to part ways if he can’t.
Marcus Rashford
George Smith
It was not all that long ago that Rashford could do no wrong. He scored 30 goals in a single season for the first time in his career in 2022/23 and was rightly rewarded with a new long-term contract.
But after scoring just eight goals in all competitions last season, his future at Old Trafford is now a talking point. A lot of supporters have become frustrated with the academy graduate, highlighted by the booing that followed Ten Hag’s decision to withdraw Garnacho against Liverpool.
It is far too early into this season to make a concrete judgement on whether United should look to sell Rashford in 2025, but it is down to him to banish such talk. He needs to improve his performance levels and find a way of getting back among the goals on a consistent basis.
Turning 27 next month, he should be entering his prime years now, yet he is currently going backwards. As a result, United could have a decision to make on his future in the coming months. The club is in a transitional period and nobody is safe from Ineos’ ruthlessness.
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