MANCHESTER United manager Erik ten Hag has expressed his displeasure at Marcus Rashford for partying hours after a humiliating home defeat.
The England forward turned 26 on Tuesday but decided to have his birthday party at a night club on Sunday night, hours after Manchester United were beaten 3-0 at Old Trafford by Manchester City.
The defeat was followed by another 3-0 loss to Newcastle United in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, and Ten Hag felt the party was in bad taste, especially after such embarrassment in the Manchester Derby.
“It is unacceptable. I told him. He apologised and that is it,” Ten Hag told his press conference yesterday ahead of today’s Premier League early kick-off against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
“So he makes a mistake but it doesn’t say he (is not) fitting in. He makes one mistake but also off the pitch what he is doing. I am sure he is doing everything right to help the team and to perform and let us win.”
Rashford has been one of the side’s worst performers as Manchester United have lurched from one bad result to another this season.
The forward, who scored 30 goals in all competitions as United won the Carabao Cup and finished third in the Premier League, has netted just once in 14 appearances this term.
Manchester United are in eighth place in the Premier League with 15 points from 10 games, 11 points adrift of leaders Tottenham Hotspur. Fulham are 14th on 12 points.
The 3-0 defeat to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup was the visitors’ biggest win at Old Trafford in 93 years.
It was also Manchester United’s eighth defeat in 15 matches this season, their worst start to a campaign since 1962/1963.
Following Sunday’s 3-0 loss to Manchester City, it is also the first time United have lost successive home games by three goals or more since October 1962.
They have also lost five of their first 10 home games for the first time since 1930/1931.
