Marcus Rashford seen in nightclub hours after 3-0 loss vs City; Erik ten Hag called it 'unacceptable' but says, apart from that mistake, Rashford is "doing everything right to help team"; Forward was not included in United's squad for the game at Fulham due to a "heavy knock"
Saturday 4 November 2023 17:03, UK
Erik ten Hag called Marcus Rashford's trip to a nightclub after their Manchester derby defeat "unacceptable" but says the striker has apologised.
Rashford was not included in United's squad for the game at Fulham game after taking a "heavy knock" in training.
Ten Hag told MUTV: "(Rashford) is OK, but not OK to start. He is not fit enough to start but it is about players who are available. (Alejandro) Garnacho can do the job very well, we have seen that often so I am confident."
The England striker was forced to apologise to Ten Hag after attending a nightclub party following last weekend's embarrassing 3-0 derby defeat to Manchester City.
Reports emerged the day after the City match that the England international, who turned 26 on Tuesday, had gone to the Chinawhite nightclub for a pre-arranged birthday party hours after the Old Trafford loss.
"Yes, I am aware of it," manager Ten Hag said of Rashford's post-derby night out in his Friday press conference.
"I spoke with him about it. It's unacceptable, I told him, he apologised and that's it. For the rest it's an internal matter.
"He's very motivated to put things right. So, he makes a mistake, but that doesn't say he's not fitting in. I see him every day in training, what he's doing, I know."
It's not the first time Rashford has drawn Ten Hag's ire for an off-field incident. Last season he was left out of the starting line-up for a Premier League game at Wolves because he overslept and arrived late to a team meeting.
However, Ten Hag firmly rejected suggestions those lapses mean Rashford is not matching the standards set by the United boss.
"Your suggestion is not right," Ten Hag said. "He's fitting in [with Ten Hag's policies]. He's very motivated to put things right. I know which effort he's putting in. He's totally with us.
"He makes a mistake but it doesn't say he isn't fitting in. I see him every day, on the training, what he's doing, I know. Make one mistake. But also, off the pitch what he's doing, how he lives and I'm sure he's doing everything right to help the team to perform and to let us win."
Ten Hag's comments on Rashford were part of a press conference in which he had to defend the character of his squad, who had been booed off on Wednesday when the Manchester derby defeat was followed by another 3-0 loss at Old Trafford to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup.
The United boss said it is not right to question his players' character, despite the team losing eight of their first 15 matches this season.
Former captain Gary Neville described the team's performances as "woeful". Paul Merson told Sky Sports this week he believes Ten Hag has "lost the players" but when asked whether his squad lacked the required spirit, the Dutchman insisted: "That's not right."
Ten Hag pointed to the two late goals United scored to win at home against Brentford last month, saying: "If there wasn't spirit and characters in the dressing room, we couldn't do this."
The former Ajax boss - who joined United in the summer of 2022 - said the response from his players to their recent results has been "positive", adding: "They want to put this right. We know the standards here.
"We have to match the standards, every day. We have had two big setbacks but this dressing room is strong, the staff is strong and this manager is strong."
Man Utd are in action at Fulham this Saturday lunchtime. You can watch free highlights across Sky Sports' digital platforms from 5.15pm.
