Manchester United say Marcus Rashford has ‘taken responsibility for his actions’ which saw him miss training last week and the disciplinary matter is now resolved, but HITC understands that the squad are far from happy with his behaviour.
Rashford missed Sunday’s FA Cup win at Newport County after reporting ‘ill’ on Friday and which saw him miss training on that day. However, it later emerged that the England striker was in a nightclub in Belfast on Thursday just hours before he informed the club he would not make training.
United manager Erik Ten Hag confirmed on Sunday that the issue was being dealt with by the club internally and that he would ‘deal with it’.
Rashford and his brother Dwaine Maynard, one of his representatives, attended United’s training HQ at Carrington on Monday and following talks with Ten Hag, director of football John Murtough and interim CEO Patrick Stewart, United issued a statement confirming that the matter has been resolved.
United said in the statement: “Marcus has taken responsibility for his actions. This has been dealt with as an internal disciplinary matter, which is now closed.”
Back in training
Rashford is now back in training and is considered available for Thursday’s Premier League clash Wolverhampton Wanderers.
However, whilst the matter has been put-to-bed by the club, the fall-out is being felt within the squad, sources have told HITC.
It is believed that senior players have made it clear to both Rashford himself and the club’s management that they have been left ‘angry’ and ‘annoyed’ by his behaviour, and whilst some believe the latest disciplinary actions are ‘soft’, they will now hope that the squad can come together.
Some of the players believe that Rashford’s behaviour is having a huge impact on the club as a whole.
HITC has also been informed that a number of the club’s coaching staff have voiced their concerns to Erik Ten Hag about Rashford’s behaviour. Indeed they point to the fact that this is not even the first instance of Rashford’s off-field issues interfering with his on-field performances this season.
In November, Ten Hag described Rashford’s behaviour as ‘unacceptable’ after he was spotted nightclubbing after United had lost the derby clash with Manchester City.
Punishment
United did not disclose any details of any possible fines for Rashford, but sources suggest that he has avoided being fined by the club for his actions.
It is understood that INEOS, who are taking control of footballing operations at United, were not involved in the process, but were kept informed – indeed their chief Sir Dave Brailsford was understood to be at Carrington giving a presentation to staff.
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