MANCHESTER UNITED
NOT GOOD: Marcus Rashford and Erik ten Hag ‘are barely speaking’ as Man United staff ‘fear the relationship has broken down
NOT GOOD: Marcus Rashford and Erik ten Hag ‘are barely speaking’ as Man United staff ‘fear the relationship has broken down irrevocably’
Erik ten Hag and Marcus Rashford are reportedly barely on speaking terms, with Man United staff claimed to be fearful that their relationship has broken down irrevocably.
According to The Sun, Ten Hag and Rashford have barely been speaking since the star called in sick for training following a 12-hour drinking binge in Belfast last month.
Rashford’s escapades in Northern Ireland’s capital led to him missing a training session and Man United’s FA Cup win over Newport County through illness.
The England international was subsequently fined £650,000 – two weeks wages – when details of his boozy antics emerged.
Rashford was ‘clearly on a mission to get drunk’, according to accounts of his night out in the Northern Irish city, and collapsed into bed fully-clothed at 3am.
He missed training after going out until 3am in Belfast while visiting his old teammate Ro-Shaun Williams, and then tried to mislead the club by saying the night out was on Wednesday and not Thursday.
Asked if Rashford’s behaviour showed a lack of respect towards his manager, Ten Hag last month said: ‘Nothing to do with that with me but in football, you need discipline and that is on the pitch but also off the pitch.
‘There is a line between, when every player, every professional knows this, what is required. We have to focus on winning football games and that’s all that matters and every top professional knows what is required.
‘He has taken responsibility and for the rest it’s an internal matter. Case closed.’
The Sun report that the relationship has not been repaired despite Ten Hag’s public comments.
The Man United boss reportedly hauled Rashford in for a private meeting to hear his explanation.
Man United staff are reportedly concerned the situation is now irrevocably.
Rashford had previously fallen foul of Ten Hag earlier in the season, with the Man United boss stating it was ‘unacceptable’ after the star had a birthday party at a nightclub hours after their 3-0 defeat to Man City.
The forward has scored just five goals in 31 matches this campaign, a marked downturn in form after netting 30 goals in 56 games last season.
Ten Hag’s future at Man United remains uncertain, with new minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe reluctant to discuss the Dutchman’s position after securing his 27.7 per cent stake in the club.
Former Man United star Gary Neville has claimed Ratcliffe will have likely decided Ten Hag’s future already.
‘They’re going to make a decision I think quite quickly if they’ve not already,’ Neville told Sky Sports.
‘I suspect that Jim Ratcliffe, Dave Brailsford, already know whether they’re going to keep Ten Hag as manager next season.
‘I can’t believe they’re going to wait until May to make that decision and then leave themselves short.’
Rashford has also attracted interest from Paris Saint Germain due to the imminent departure of Kylian Mbappe. Any sale of the England striker would be transformative for Man United’s finances.
Man United are currently eight points behind Aston Villa in the race for Champions League football next season. The Red Devils will travel to Nottingham Forest in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Wendesday.
MANCHESTER UNITED
“That particular player was the reason we sacked Erik ten Hag and I have warned Ruud van Nistelrooy to avoid using him.
“That particular player was the reason we sacked Erik ten Hag and I have warned Ruud van Nistelrooy to avoid using him, If he breached the instructions then it will be over for him also”: Sir Jim Ratchliffe warns new Man United’s manager to avoid using ONE player who was the reason Erik ten Hag was sacked
Erik ten Hag has become the fifth Man United manager to be sacked in the last decade with the new club chiefs left unimpressed with his results this calendar year.
The Dutchman won two trophies in two seasons but guided United to their lowest Premier League finish last term. He was kept on by the new board this summer following an end-of-season review.”
However, having won just three of his first nine league games this campaign, Ten Hag has been relieved of his duties after 128 games as manager. Step-in caretaker Ruud van Nistelrooy takes charge while a permanent successor is sourced.
Van Nistelrooy becomes the ninth different figure – temporary or permanent – to lead the club since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013. He follows Ryan Giggs, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick in being among the Scot’s former players to take charge of United.
Earlier this month, Sir Jim Ratcliffe informed Ferguson that he would be relinquishing his role of club ambassador at the end of the season. It is thought the move is part of his cost-cutting exercises at the club, having already sanctioned the redundancies of 250 staff members this year.
However, the 72-year-old – who wishes to see United build a new 100,000-seater Old Trafford – has made clear that decisions regarding the first-team manager are not within his remit.
Asked about the future of Ten Hag earlier this month, Ratcliffe deflected: “I like Erik. I think he’s a very good coach but at the end of the day it’s not my call, it’s the management team that’s running Manchester United that have to decide how we best run the team in many different respects.”
Ratcliffe oversaw a revamp of the United boardroom this summer, with old figures ushered out and new top brass headhunted. Former Manchester City chief Omar Berrada was announced as the club’s new CEO in January while technical director Jason Wilcox was pinched from Southampton.
United had to fork out compensation to Newcastle United when acquiring sporting director Dan Ashworth, who insisted that the decision to keep Ten Hag was made before his summer arrival. United will lose around £17million in sacking compensation to Ten Hag.
Ineos sporting chief Sir Dave Brailsford and Ineos CEO Jean-Claude Blanc are also on the board while Christopher Vivell sits as director of global talent.
While clarifying his role in the managerial turnover process, Ratcliffe urged the boardroom to “to take stock and make some sensible decisions,” having “not been there a long time.”
He underscored: “Our objective is very clear – we want to take Manchester United back to where it should be, and it’s not there yet, obviously – that’s very clear.”
MANCHESTER UNITED
Club statement…
Club statement…
Erik ten Hag has left his role as Manchester United men’s first-team manager.
Erik was appointed in April 2022 and led the club to two domestic trophies, winning the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024.
We are grateful to Erik for everything he has done during his time with us and wish him well for the future.
Ruud van Nistelrooy will take charge of the team as interim head coach, supported by the current coaching team, whilst a permanent head coach is recruited.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Ten Hag out!! Predicted Man United line up under Xavi Hernandez – as INEOS set to sack Ten Hag if He fails to deliver West Ham game tomorrow
Ten Hag out!! Predicted Man United line up under Xavi Hernandez – as INEOS set to sack Ten Hag if He fails to deliver West Ham game tomorrow
Barcelona legend Xavi has made his stance on Manchester United clear amid reports linking him as a possible replacement for Erik ten Hag as manager at Old Trafford. Ten Hag is under mounting pressure following a lackluster start to the season, with his side winning only three of their first eight Premier League matches.
This disappointing run has fueled speculation about his future, and names like former England manager Gareth Southgate, Brentford boss Thomas Frank, and Xavi have all surfaced as potential replacements.
Xavi’s thoughts on Manchester United have resurfaced from a past interview, providing some insight into his view of the club.
Speaking after Barcelona’s Europa League tie against Manchester United in 2023, the former Barca midfielder expressed respect for the Red Devils and praised Ten Hag for the progress he had made with the team. “I think Manchester is coming back, and they showed their best,” Xavi said in an interview with TNT Sport. “We need to be proud.
I think both teams are more or less in the same moment, in the same position, that we are coming back. I said to Ten Hag now, ‘Congratulations,’ because he’s doing very well and they are Manchester United.”
Xavi’s remarks reflected his belief that both Barcelona and United were in periods of rebuilding, with the potential to reestablish themselves as top contenders in Europe.
He even hinted that future meetings between the two clubs could happen in the latter stages of the Champions League. His praise for United and Ten Hag has now taken on new relevance as discussions about his potential move to the Premier League intensify.
Reports have emerged suggesting that Manchester United CEO Omar Berrada traveled to Spain for two rounds of talks with Xavi to explore the possibility of bringing him to Old Trafford.
However, it seems that Xavi, who is currently enjoying some time away from the game, is not interested in cutting his break short. According to the Spanish newspaper AS, the 44-year-old has no intention of returning to management just yet, even if it means passing up a significant opportunity with a club as prestigious as Manchester United.
Meanwhile, Ten Hag has addressed the ongoing rumors surrounding his job, expressing frustration with the media’s portrayal of his situation. Before United’s recent 2-1 win over Brentford, Ten Hag dismissed the speculation, calling it “noise” created by the press. “Noise is only coming from some of you [media], creating stories and fairytales, bringing lies,” he said.
Ten Hag emphasized that while the team is unhappy with its current position in the league, they remain calm and confident in their plan. He assured that despite the speculation, he believes success will come under his leadership.
The situation leaves Manchester United in a state of uncertainty, with Ten Hag fighting to keep his position amid a difficult run of form, while Xavi, one of the names floated as a possible successor, seems uninterested in taking over at this time. As rumors continue to swirl, both the club and its fans await further developments.
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