Manchester United have insisted Marcus Rashford has taken “responsibility for his actions” as they announced the incident around his decision to go clubbing before reporting ill has been dealt with.
Rashford had reported being ill to United last week, missing training on Friday and the FA Cup fourth round win over Newport on Sunday. But it later emerged that he had been pictured clubbing in Belfast the night before he reported ill, though United now insist the matter is closed.
The Red Devils said in a statement: “Marcus has taken responsibility for his actions. This has been dealt with as an internal disciplinary matter, which is now closed.”
Boss Erik ten Hag was keen to keep to matter in-house, as opposed to when Jadon Sancho was publicly exiled from the first-team squad earlier this season. He said: “It’s an internal matter. I will deal with it. So, listen [it’s an], internal matter.”
Ten Hag remained tight-lipped on Rashford after United’s win, saying: “So he reported ill, for the rest it’s an internal mater and I’ll deal with it.” Asked if the issue raised more questions than answers, Ten Hag said: “For you, but not for me. It’s an internal matter and I will deal with it.”
When the Dutchman was asked if the Rashford incident was proof the “no good” culture he encountered when he took over at United still existed, he replied: “I don’t go there in this case. I’ve talked before about it. I think we played a good game and now we move on. We will deal with it, I will deal with it.”
The news that the matter is now closed comes after Rashford was warned that he needs to take responsibility by United legend Rio Ferdinand. The former defender demanded the Englishman step up into the leadership role he now occupies in the squad.
“The way the manager responded to the question makes me think he’s not happy with what’s happened. There’s something wrong. The club’s all over the place, players in his position have been hammered by the club,” Ferdinand told the Vibe with Five podcast.
“One’s gone out on loan to Dortmund now, one’s not at the club anymore. There’s a lot of noise around the club, you’re one of the experienced players, keep that noise down. That’s your duty.
“Like it or not, you’re one of the leaders now. I think you have to be aware enough that when you’re not doing well as a club, as a team, and you’re not hitting the standards personally, you’ve got to be aware man.
“Right now, Marcus should be the guy that’s leading that team. You have to have the awareness. It’s not only your manager that knows things, it’s the whole world so you have to be more careful.”
