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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reaffirmed his commitment to addressing the situation regarding Marcus Rashford, who missed their FA Cup fourth-round victory against Newport County due to illness.
Rashford's absence from the match sparked discussions after he was spotted in Belfast during the week. United clarified that the images of Rashford in Northern Ireland were from Wednesday evening, with the players granted a day off on Thursday.
Speculation arose suggesting that Rashford had been socializing on Thursday night, just before reporting ill ahead of Friday's training session. Notably, Rashford remained absent from training on both Friday and Saturday.
When Ten Hag was pressed on Rashford's absence, he replied: "In what sense? So he reported ill, for the rest it's an internal matter, I deal with it. As I said, it's an internal matter.
"For you (it raises more questions than answers), but not for me. It's an internal matter, I will deal with it."
When asked if this was indicative of the "no-good culture" Ten Hag inherited, the Dutchman said: "I don't go in this case, I've talked before about it. I think we played a good game and now we move on. We will deal with it, I will deal with it."
The circumstances surrounding Rashford's absence have raised questions about his adherence to the club's protocols and expectations. With United striving for consistency and discipline within the team, ten Hag's comments indicate a proactive approach to managing the situation.
As discussions continue regarding Rashford's conduct and his subsequent illness, the incident highlights the scrutiny that accompanies high-profile players in top-tier football clubs.
