Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has admitted Marcus Rashford will have had a “wake-up call” after his recent disciplinary issue with the club played out in public.
Rashford was spotted partying in a Belfast nightclub last month, with United saying they were informed the imagery of the 26-year-old was on a Wednesday ahead of the players’ day off on Thursday. The United forward was subsequently absent from training on Friday due to illness and absent from the squad to face Newport County in the FA Cup.
Erik ten Hag described this incident as an ‘internal matter’ and refused to shed further details on the matter with the media. Such controversy arrived on the back of criticism levelled at the England international for poor body language during matches this campaign, which Rashford recently hit back at during an interview with The Players’ Tribune.
Plenty of advice has been offered to the United No.10 in recent weeks after criticism that has come his way and Solskjaer has weighed in on the debate, telling FourFourTwo: “Obviously I managed Marcus for three years and I know him. It’s not my job to go out and discuss his performances, but last season he was fantastic and it’s about consistency in football. Marcus and many others haven’t hit the heights this season. I’m sure he had a wake-up call recently and hopefully, that will spur him on.”
Speaking at an event in India, the Norwegian was then asked by a journalist if it’s the job of the manager to get the best out of Rashford and added: “I’m not sure it’s the manager’s job to get the best out of Marcus Rashford.
Is it the manager’s job to get the best out of him? Or is it mostly himself, or any player’s responsibility to get the best out of yourself? That’s more important.
“He’s had a fantastic career, some ups and downs. Now we hope he’s going to hit that consistency because I know, and we all know, there’s a top player there. It’s difficult to be at the top all the time, but it takes sacrifice.”