Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, firmly stood by his decision to bench Marcus Rashford during the team’s goalless draw against Crystal Palace, despite a wave of criticism from football pundits. In response to what he described as an overblown reaction, Ten Hag dismissed the uproar as “ludicrous,” particularly pointing out the commentary around his choice of starting lineup.
In the match at Selhurst Park, Ten Hag opted to field a forward line comprising Alejandro Garnacho, Joshua Zirkzee, and Amad Diallo, leaving Rashford on the bench despite the fact that the striker had been in fine form, netting three goals in his previous two appearances. Many expected Rashford’s inclusion given his sharp performances, which made the decision to rest him all the more surprising. However, the game itself unfolded in a manner that underscored the critics’ concerns, as United struggled to turn their dominance of possession into clear scoring chances. Opportunities came and went, and Crystal Palace, though far from their best, managed to hold their ground and earn a valuable point against the Red Devils.
Among those voicing discontent was Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp, who openly questioned Ten Hag’s rationale behind dropping Rashford. Redknapp speculated that there may have been off-field reasons at play, suggesting that something beyond footballing logic had influenced the manager’s decision. “It feels like something has gone wrong,” Redknapp stated. “I don’t know the full details, but when you have a player who scores twice against Southampton and another goal midweek, it’s strange to see him left out. It almost seems like something happened behind the scenes.”
Redknapp further expressed his belief that Rashford was beginning to rediscover his best form, reminiscent of his standout performances from two seasons ago. “I wouldn’t say he’s fully back to his best, but this version of Rashford looks closer to the player we saw two years ago,” he added. “I’m not sure what’s frustrating the manager, but it feels like there was a specific reason for his exclusion, maybe something that occurred during the week.” Redknapp also compared Ten Hag’s handling of the situation to the approach of legendary United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, emphasizing that Ferguson was known for rarely punishing players for off-field issues. In his view, such actions by managers can sometimes do more harm than good to the squad.
Ten Hag, visibly frustrated by the criticism, did not hold back when responding to Redknapp and others who shared the same sentiments. Dismissing the notion that Rashford’s benching was anything but a tactical choice, Ten Hag labeled the speculation as “ridiculous.” He expressed his irritation with commentators who, in his opinion, were making baseless assumptions about his managerial decisions. For Ten Hag, his primary focus remained on the tactical and strategic needs of the team, and he made it clear that external opinions wouldn’t influence how he managed his players.
The debate over Rashford’s benching highlighted the ongoing scrutiny that comes with managing a high-profile club like Manchester United, where every decision, particularly those involving key players, is met with intense analysis. While Ten Hag’s track record with United has been generally positive, moments like this serve as a reminder of the delicate balancing act required to manage not just the team’s on-field performances, but also the expectations of fans, pundits, and the media. Ultimately, the decision to leave Rashford out of the starting XI became one of the major talking points following a frustrating match for the Red Devils, further amplifying the pressure on Ten Hag to justify his choices in the weeks to come.