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Alan Shearer has launched a fierce critique of Marcus Rashford after the information emerged of the ahead’s newest disciplinary concern at Manchester United.
The 26-year-old reported unwell to coaching at Carrington on Friday after having been out partying in a nightclub in Belfast on Thursday night time. Whereas the journey to the Northern Eire capital was sanctioned by the membership, Outdated Trafford officers had believed he can be returning on Thursday, quite than on Friday morning.
The very fact Rashford selected to remain out partying the night time earlier than coaching, and was then too unwell to coach, is a flagrant demonstration of unprofessionalism.
This weekend’s journey to Newport County constituted United’s final probability of silverware this season. It additionally got here two weeks after the membership’s final sport in opposition to Tottenham Hotspur within the Premier League. Erik ten Hag gave his squad a mini-holiday throughout this era to take time away from soccer.
But, someway, Rashford thought it acceptable to decide on the very remaining night time of this freedom as a chance to exit on the lash, regardless of the essential FA Cup 4th spherical fixture three days later.
It was a baffling choice for a participant who ought to be setting an instance as a senior member of his squad. Rashford agreed a brand new five-year deal price within the area of £325,000 every week final summer season. There are specific expectations and requirements that include such a deal.
Shearer, talking on BBC as a pundit for yesterday’s sport between United and Newport County, appeared to reflect this view.
What is going on on with Marcus Rashford at Manchester United?
“He cannot hold doing this, he cannot waste his expertise.”#BBCFootball #BBCFACup pic.twitter.com/i9BmzBIHJJ
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) January 28, 2024
“There’s an enormous expertise in there with Marcus Rashford. We noticed him be disciplined final season he was late for a gathering, he really missed a sport. However one thing is clearly fallacious both a house, or his relationship with the soccer membership. He can’t hold doing this, he can’t hold losing his expertise. It’s not proper.
“He wants robust administration, somebody to pay money for him and say ‘once you get to the tip of your profession, you’ll have enormous regrets. You possibly can’t have that. You don’t want that.”
This concern of unprofessionalism has turn out to be an endemic one at Outdated Trafford in recent times.
A number of managers – together with Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer, Ralf Rangnick and, now, Ten Hag – have skilled related issues with the United dressing room. The truth that Rashford has been a relentless throughout this time speaks to his energetic participation in the issue, quite than merely being a passive observer.
United’s star participant wants to begin appearing prefer it; or else he’ll merely turn out to be one other instance, as Shearer observes, of a footballer “losing his expertise”.
