Rashford plans mental reset
Forward to take stock or performance after poor season, England snub
MARCUS RASHFORD is planning to take some time to reset mentally after acknowledging he has endured a “challenging season”. The England forward was left out of Gareth Southgate’s training squad for Euro 2024 after scoring just eight goals in all competitions for a struggling Manchester United side who finished eighth in the Premier League.
But after helping his club end the season on a high by beating Manchester City in Saturday’s FA Cup final, the 26-year-old will now look to make the most of his summer of rest.
And as he announced his decision to step away from his social media accounts for a few weeks, Rashford – who last month said “enough is enough” after receiving online abuse – responded again to his critics.
He wrote on X: “It’s time to come off socials for a few weeks. I plan to rest and reset mentally after a challenging season individually and collectively.
“Thanks to the fans that stood by me through a difficult period. To the ones that didn’t, just remember at United, we always stick together.”
Teammate Luke Shaw did make Southgate’s provisional squad despite injuries restricting him to only 15 appearances for United this season, the last of them in February.
The fullback has addressed criticism over his apparent availability for his country, but not his club.
Shaw posted
United fans vote for Ten Hag
MOST Manchester United fans favour the club keeping Erik ten Hag as manager, according to a new poll, as the Dutchman awaits his fate amid talks over his future.
Ten Hag’s position appears to still be uncertain despite leading the Old Trafford club to FA Cup triumph at Wembley on Saturday to secure a Europa League spot next season.
The former Ajax boss had endured a difficult campaign in the Premier League, though, guiding Manchester United to an eighth-placed finish.
Speculation that the club may move on from Ten Hag intensified ahead of the cup final after a report claimed that he would be sacked regardless of the result.
But polling from the Manchester Evening News suggests that he retains the support of the club’s fans, with 78% of 10,000 respondents indicating that they would like him to stay.
Only 39% had wanted Ten Hag to remain in charge into the final year of a three-year contract when asked after the 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace earlier this month.
Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and cochairman Joel Glazer are leading a review of the club’s season with assistance from Sir Dave Brailsford, director of sport at Ineos, and Jason Wilcox, recently installed as technical director.
Representatives of United have on Instagram: “I don’t normally react to things I see on social media, but there’s a lot of people questioning my loyalty to this club and asking how I am fit for England but not United.
“The reality is I am not 100% fit for either right now, but I am doing everything I can and constantly working to be. “I have been at this club for 10 years through highs and lows and for anyone to question my loyalty is obviously frustrating.”
Meanwhile, teammate Anthony Martial bade an emotional farewell to the club after confirming his nine-year stay at Old Trafford was over. already spoken to the camps of Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Tuchel, Kieran McKenna and Thomas Frank to prepare for the event that Ten Hag is sacked.
The 28-year-old France international joined the Red Devils in a £36 million (RM216m) move from Monaco in September 2015, but has not played a senior game since December after undergoing groin surgery and his departure was widely expected.
In a statement on Instagram, he said: “It’s with great emotion that I write to you today to say goodbye. After nine incredible years at the club, the time has come for me to turn a new page in my career.
“I’m leaving to take on new challenges, I’ll always be a Red Devil and I’ll continue to follow the club’s results with passion.” – The Independent