Former Manchester United forward Dwight Yorke has questioned Erik ten Hag’s ‘crazy’ decision to drop Marcus Rashford from the starting line-up at Crystal Palace last weekend.
Rashford has struggled to recapture his exceptional goalscoring form from the 2022/23 campaign when he bagged 30 goals across all competitions.
However, he was starting to show signs of life over the past three games, notching three goals and an assist in that span.
Rashford scored the second goal in the 3-0 victory over newly promoted Southampton before bagging a brace and an assist in the League Cup third round against Barnsley.
Despite his recent form, Ten Hag dropped the Englishman from the starting line-up in the goalless draw against Palace.
“It’s crazy,” Yorke said live on talkSPORT. “I think we all were baffled and stunned by the decision-making.
“When you think that Rashford hasn’t played in the Euros [European Championship] either and he hasn’t really performed.
“We’re only four games or five games into the season, and he’s [Ten Hag] talking about rotation and resting.
“I find that really hard to comprehend how a manager could come to that decision.
“Of course, you like to see what the outcome is, and had they gone on to win Crystal Palace, I don’t think the decision would have been a wrong one.
“But when the result hasn’t added up to what his mindsets are or whatever his philosophies are, it’s still a little bit puzzling, in my opinion.
Rashford will be hoping to reclaim his spot in the starting line up when Man United kick off their Europa League campaign against Eredivisie side FC Twente later tonight.
The Red Devils have had a mixed start to the 2024/25 campaign.
They’re languishing in the bottom half of the table in 11th place after collecting just seven points from their opening five games.
Ten Hag will be keen to get the Europa League campaign off to a flyer, especially with a tough Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur on the horizon.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com.
