Roy Keane Slams Marcus Rashford, Calls for Him to Be Benched After Dismal Display Against Tottenham
Manchester United legend Roy Keane has never been one to sugarcoat his opinions, and his recent scathing critique of Marcus Rashford is no exception. Following Manchester United’s woeful performance against Tottenham Hotspur, Keane has voiced serious concerns about the current form of the England international. Rashford, who was once considered the heartbeat of United’s attack, has now found himself at the center of growing frustration from both fans and pundits alike.
“His performance clearly shows that he is doing more harm than good to the chemistry of the team. His gameplay was sloppy and quite disappointing,” Keane remarked during the post-match analysis. “Keep him on the bench now before it’s too late.”
Rated a mere 5/10 for his contribution, Rashford’s impact on the game was minimal, and shockingly, he had fewer touches than goalkeeper André Onana. This staggering statistic highlights just how disconnected Rashford appeared from the rest of the team, failing to influence the game in the way that is expected of a player of his caliber. For a forward who has been at the club since his youth and carries the responsibility of being a key player, his lackluster display was nothing short of alarming.
Roy Keane’s criticism didn’t stop there. He lambasted Rashford for his seeming disinterest and lack of urgency, qualities that the former United captain believes are now becoming a trend rather than an exception. “This is Marcus Rashford we’re talking about. A player who’s meant to lead the attack, but what we saw was someone completely out of sync with the rest of the team. He wasn’t involved, he wasn’t working hard enough. It was a performance that dragged the whole team down,” Keane added.
The lack of chemistry between Rashford and his teammates is beginning to raise questions about whether his place in the starting XI should be reassessed. Keane’s harsh words have triggered heated discussions among Manchester United fans, many of whom have noticed a dip in Rashford’s form since the start of the season. While some fans still back the forward, hoping he will rediscover the form that made him one of United’s most exciting talents, others are beginning to echo Keane’s sentiments—questioning whether Rashford should be benched to allow other players, such as Alejandro Garnacho or Rasmus Højlund, a chance to shine.
“Manchester United can’t afford passengers,” Keane continued, expressing his frustration. “Rashford isn’t delivering at the level required, and the team is suffering because of it. We’ve seen glimpses of brilliance from him in the past, but right now, he looks miles off the pace. It’s time to bench him until he finds his spark again.”
Erik ten Hag, United’s under-pressure manager, now faces a dilemma. With critical fixtures on the horizon, he must decide whether to stick with Rashford and hope he regains his confidence, or take the bold move of benching one of the club’s most high-profile players. Ten Hag has shown in the past that he is not afraid to make tough decisions, having previously dropped underperforming players in key matches, but Rashford’s status at the club adds another layer of complexity to the situation.
Fan reaction to Keane’s comments has been mixed, with some agreeing that Rashford’s recent displays have fallen far below expectations, while others argue that he just needs more time to adapt to the new tactical setup under Ten Hag. However, what remains clear is that Manchester United cannot afford to carry underperforming players if they are to compete at the top level this season. Rashford, who signed a lucrative new contract earlier this year, will need to drastically improve if he is to avoid being sidelined by his manager.
As Manchester United prepare for a tough run of games, all eyes will be on Erik ten Hag’s next lineup. Will Rashford continue to be given chances to prove himself, or will the manager heed Roy Keane’s warning and make the tough call to bench the out-of-form winger? One thing is certain: the pressure on Rashford to perform is mounting, and only time will tell if he can rise
to the challenge.