Ten Hag needs to give Rashford a 'kick up the a**e' to save Man Utd job - Keane

Tom Weber

• Updated: 5 Apr 2024 10:06 BST
• 4 min read

Erik ten Hag needs Marcus Rashford at his best if he wants to survive as Manchester United boss.

On his day, the 26-year-old is Man Utd's best player, but this season he has rarely shown it. Rashford was dropped by Ten Hag for the unbelievable 4-3 clash with Chelsea, with the attacker ultimately only getting 24 minutes and failing to directly contribute to a goal.

"Marcus is on the bench for rotation to keep him and the team fresh through a busy period, with another big game on Sunday," Ten Hag said prior to the match. Yet, it would have been entirely justified had he been dropped for performance reasons.

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Though Rashford had been somewhat improved in recent weeks with goals against Everton and a stunner against Man City, he was back to his apathetic worst against Brentford at the weekend. Last season, Rashford fired Man Utd into the Champions League and to a Carabao Cup title with 30 goals.

This term, the homegrown has just eight goals and six assists to his name in all competitions. With the pressure on Ten Hag reaching fever pitch after late collapses to Brentford and Chelsea, the Dutchman needs Rashford to step up if he wants to have any hopes of staying on board next season.

Rashford needs a 'kick up the a**e'

According to Man Utd legend Roy Keane, Rashford is an 'outstanding' player, but he needs a 'kick up the a**se' every once in a while to remind him that he can't just go missing in games.

“There’s no question mark about Rashford’s ability," Keane said on the Stick to Football podcast. "He’s outstanding – but there’s something amiss with him. We’ve had these conversations every few months – a player can have an off-spell or a dip, but he’s certainly not enjoying his football."

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“Who is giving him an old-fashioned kick up the a**e and saying ‘Come on, we need more from you?’ If you want to be this leader, and you’re on the big contracts, then there is that responsibility. I don’t think that is happening, I don’t think there is anybody on his case.”

Rio Ferdinand, meanwhile, posited that Rashford may have to leave Man Utd to reignite his career. "The reason I left [West Ham] to go to Leeds was because it was out of London, and the external people around me, I needed to get away from. He'll need to either decide to get rid of them and stay in Manchester or leave Manchester and get rid of those people."