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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Josh O'Brien

Erik ten Hag in disagreement over Marcus Rashford after he "plays like a child" jibe

Erik ten Hag clearly does not listen to the thoughts of pundits, whether they are Manchester United legends or not, if his team selection is anything to go by.

The Dutchman selected Marcus Rashford from the off for the visit of Brighton on Sunday afternoon. Keen to make an impression on both his new manager and the Old Trafford faithful on the opening game of the season, the 24-year-old failed to make much of an impact in truth.

Rashford had the chance to score while the scoreline was 2-1 to the Seagulls after Cristiano Ronaldo laid a chance on a plate for him, but the best he could muster was to fire straight at goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.

Initially, the flag was raised but replays soon showed the goal would have stood if Rashford could have just done what he has found so hard in recent times and put the ball in the back of the net.

Despite the miss, Ten Hag spoke highly of United's number 10 after the game. The Red Devils boss also addressed the fact that Rashford was deployed on the left of the attack, as opposed to being used as a centre-forward.

"We have two strikers, maybe a third one with Rashford as well, you could see him as a striker," Ten Hag explained. He had a really good pre-season on the left side and also today had two really good chances, coming in from the left side, so I think it was the right decision to do it like this.

Marcus Rashford spurned United's best chance of the game against Brighton ((Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images))

HAVE YOUR SAY! Will Rashford improve for United as the season goes on? Comment below

"Rashford had two really good chances and it's a pity we didn't score to make it 2-2." The forward appears to have misplaced his shooting boots some time ago considering his final goal tally for last season.

Granted, Rashford missed the opening exchanges of last term as he recovered from shoulder surgery but four league goals across the entire campaign marked his lowest return since he first burst onto the scene as a teenager during the 2015/16 season.

One of the lowest points of last term came at the tail-end when United legend Roy Keane did not hold back in his brutal assessment of Rashford's struggles, which look to have carried over into this season.

Speaking after a home win over Brentford that Rashford failed to get off the bench for, Keane told Sky Sports: "He seems short on confidence, I go back, I think he's taken his eye off the ball, with all his off the field stuff.

"He's got that experience, but he doesn't mix his game. Even when he's playing through the middle, I said he plays like a child. It's like he's not learnt from the game. I think he's lost the eye of the tiger and he's struggling to get it back.

"I think the hunger, he's got to get the hunger back and make runs like [Anthony] Elanga, Rashford has lost that hunger which is huge for a player."

Regardless of what Keane thinks, Ten Hag's comments do not read like they come from a manager with any issue over the way Rashford is playing and training.

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