Erik ten Hag: Marcus Rashford lacked professionalism last season

Erik ten Hag has admitted that Marcus Rashford’s lifestyle was “not right” and the Manchester United striker lacked “professionalism” during his dramatic slump last season.

Rashford has hit a vein of early-season form, with three goals in his last two games after ending a 12-game goal drought, and has shown glimpses of the dynamic play that saw him score a career-high 30 times two seasons ago.

But in the 2023-24 season Rashford scored just eight goals and became embroiled in high-profile off-field controversies.

He was criticised by Ten Hag after being seen in a nightclub hours after a heavy derby defeat in November and, in January, was fined after a social trip to Belfast ended in him missing training.

Now, says Ten Hag, Rashford’s attitude has changed, as shown by him starting all six games so far this season with the United manager insisting that Rashford was always aware of his mistakes.

“I think he always knew, and every player knows, because when your lifestyle is not right, you can’t perform,” he said.

“You don’t get the right levels when you don’t have a good and disciplined life away from Carrington.

“Probably he needed some help, by backing him for instance. At the end of the day, he has to do it by himself. He has to set his life right, his training attitude right, his match attitude right. When he sets his professionalism he will perform because he is a class player.”

Rashford’s return to form could be a major boost for United, who have made an unconvincing start to the league campaign and face a tricky visit to Crystal Palace on Saturday. And Ten Hag believes Rashford has shown the necessary resilience to bounce back from his setbacks.

“I think every player who plays in the Premier League, but definitely at this club, you need some resilience,” he said.

“Not any football career is only the way up, you always go down. You have to deal with it. Marcus Rashford has also experienced, he knows when there are setbacks how to fight back, how to set his career, his performance. He took control of it and I think he is on the way back.

“He started the season very good, now he has to continue and to progress.

“It’s very good, of course, that your striker... that they’re starting to score when the season is very young, strikers need that belief. Now we have a couple of players on the scoring list, it is very good for the team, strengthens their belief, they will go for more goals.”

Rashford’s problems have also lost him his place in the England squad, with the 26-year-old having won the last of his 60 caps as a substitute in a friendly against Brazil in March. However, Ten Hag also believes he is now in contention for Lee Carsley’s squad next month. “I think he will always be an option for every manager, but it is not up to me,” said Ten Hag.

Hojlund and Mount to return

As well as a rejuvenated Rashford, United could also soon benefit from the return of Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount, whose early-season hamstring injury followed a campaign in which the former England international missed 30 games through injury.

Ten Hag has said that his absence means that he has yet to integrate Mount fully into United’s style of play, 13 months after his arrival from Chelsea.

“When he is not available I can’t integrate him into the team, that’s the problem. First of all, he has to be available and then we can integrate him,” said Ten Hag.

“We have already seen glimpses in the start of the season, what he is capable of. It was not a long time out, it was a quick turnaround back.

“What he needs is a longer period where he can train fully with the team and play with the team. Then he can come into speed and then everyone will see his qualities.

“I am totally convinced, I have seen in the start of the season what he can bring to the team. I am sure once he is in a longer run he will really improve.”