Marcus Rashford has been struggling off the pitch just as much as he’s been struggling on it, according to Emmanuel Petit.
Manchester United have made a poor start to the new campaign, with two defeats, including a 3-0 hammering by Liverpool, in their opening three Premier League matches. Rashford’s form mirrors his club’s, with the 26-year-old netting just eight goals in his last 46 games.
He’s yet to score this season, and hasn’t really looked like doing so in all four of his appearances thus far. And Arsenal legend Petit, 53, has suggested that his performances could be being hampered by personal problems.
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“I’ve been told that he’s been through a difficult moment in his private life,” Petit said speaking on the Seaman Says podcast, courtesy of Betway. The Frenchman encouraged United to help Rashford through this turbulent period.
“We have all been through difficult times when you need help. If it doesn’t come from your family or friends, it must come from the club, and you need to share sometimes,” he said.
“It is important for clubs to focus not only on the football player but on the human being as well. Because I think you are under contract, you are earning a lot of money, so you are responsible. They are expecting something back from you.”
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(Image: SIPA USA/PA Images)
Rashford played the full 90 minutes against Liverpool, but failed to make an impact. To make matters worse, Erik ten Hag’s decision to keep Rashford on the pitch while substituting Alejandro Garnacho was met with jeers from the home crowd.
Before the clash, Newcastle legend Alan Shearer slammed Rashford for not having a single shot on goal in United’s first two matches. Yet, Ten Hag defended his player, calling Shearer’s comments “stupid”.
“Everyone gets criticism from you guys, it doesn’t matter what we are doing,” he said to reporters. “If we are winning, if we are losing, if I take a player off, the conclusion is I was not happy with him. I was very happy with Rashy in pre-season, against Fulham and also against Brighton.
“It is not why I took him off because his performances or level were not right – no, we had to rotate and we have good players on the bench as well, you bring new energy. There will be rotation and if then there is the conclusion the player is not performing. Can be sometimes, definitely it wasn’t in this case. Stupid analysis in this case from the pundit.”
United are currently 14th in the Premier League table, and doubts are already being raised about Ten Hag’s future at the helm.
Up next after the international break is a trip to newly-promoted Southampton followed by an EFL third round match against Barnsley. Both, you’d imagine, are must-win matches at this point.