ERIK TEN HAG hit out at “crazy” talk about a row between him and Marcus Rashford.
Manchester United manager Ten Hag reacted to Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp’s claims “there’s obviously something that’s happened” after Rashford was dropped for the draw at Crystal Palace — despite scoring three in his two previous games.
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ETH said: “I heard already speculation from some pundits. That is crazy.
“I would almost say that, as a person, you are not OK when you bring such speculation if you don’t know. This has nothing to do with it.
“I’m very happy with Marcus, with everything.
“With his defending part, offensive, he scores in this moment, he performs very good.
“So there is nothing to do with it that he was on the bench, just rotation.
“We have many games to cover. We have more than a starting 11 of players.
“If the players perform, we will give them their chances.”
Ten Hag had warned Rashford in the build-up to the clash with the Eagles at Selhurst Park that he needed to maintain the improvement in his off-field lifestyle if he wanted to put last season’s woes behind him.
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But the United boss also praised the former England striker after he scored twice in the 7-0 midweek mauling of Barnsley in the League Cup.
That did not stop the Dutchman from starting Joshua Zirkzee instead of the axed England international.
Man Utd ratings vs Crystal Palace as Andre Onana saves the day for wasteful Red Devils
MANCHESTER UNITED were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace as they missed a flurry of first-half chances.
Erik ten Hag shocked fans this afternoon when he left Marcus Rashford out of his starting XI.
And the Red Devils failed to make a breakthrough – dropping two more points.
Here, SunSport’s Jordan Davies delivers his Man Utd player ratings…
ANDRE ONANA – 8/10
Had one save to make just before half time – a comfortable one from Eberechi Eze.
And then, a worldie double save to keep out Eddie Nketiah and Ismaila Sarr, rivalling the one made by Arsenal’s David Raya in mid-week.
NOUSSAIR MAZRAOUI – 7
One of United’s most consistent performers who continues to impress week by week. Strong in the tackle and great positioning to stop Palace counters.
MATTHIJS DE LIGT – 7
Lost an early duel with Jean-Philippe Mateta which put the Frenchman in but it was pulled back for a foul. Blamed his boots and changed them moments later.
Unlucky with a brilliant header from a corner that was somehow kept out by Dean Henderson and made a superb last-ditch tackle to stop Eze in the second half.
LISANDRO MARTINEZ – 6
Another player who came close to scoring but for the brilliance of Henderson, swivelling and turning in the six-yard box with a stabbed effort.
Lucky not to be sent off for a ridiculous two-footed lunge that narrowly avoided contact with Daichi Kamada.
DIOGO DALOT – 7
Played as a left winger for most of the first half, such was United’s dominance.
Brilliant pick out only for Garnacho to hit the crossbar.
KOBBIE MAINOO – 7
Covered ground well and linked defence with attack. Drifted forward more in the second half without seriously threatening.
An insane Cruyff piece of skill in the second half was worth the admission fee alone.
CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN – 6
Kept things ticking over and picked some nice passes at times but his lack of pace and physicality was evident.
BRUNO FERNANDES – 7
Tenacious in ensuring Palace’s midfield could not get a foothold in the game and grazed the top of the bar with a volley into the ground just before the half hour mark.
Was United’s most creative player on the ball and should have had one goal to his name at least.
AMAD DIALLO – 6
Showed glimpses with some darting runs but never possessing the intent and aggression to force anything meaningful from it.
ALEJANDRO GARNACHO – 7
Had a personal battle with Henderson, one that he ultimately lost.
Early chance to show it was the right call to start ahead of Marcus Rashford squandered – put through by Zirkzee but 1v1 effort palmed away by Henderson.
Smacked the bar in a similar position from Dalot’s through ball and came close to knocking one in from close range.
JOSHUA ZIRKZEE – 6
Linked up well with Garnacho, dropping deep and slipping the winger in that should have led to the opener. Headed wide from a Diallo corner just before the break.
Rightly subbed off on the hour mark as his influence waned.
SUBS:
MARCUS RASHFORD (ZIRKZEE, 61) – 6
Did very little to convince Erik Ten Hag to throw him back into the starting XI, but was barely given the service either.
MANUEL UGARTE (ERIKSEN, 76) – 6
United certainly appear calmer and more solid with him at the base of their midfield.
RASMUS HOJLUND (DIALLO, 76) – 6
Still getting minutes back into his legs after returning from injury, but this is one of his more forgettable cameos.
When news of Rashford’s shock omission broke, Redknapp said: “It feels like something untoward has gone on. You don’t drop a player that’s scored two in midweek and one against Southampton. It feels like something has happened this week.”
Ten Hag was left to rue missed chances in the first half.
And to thank goalkeeper Andre Onana for making a brilliant double save in the second period from Eddie Nketiah and Ismaila Sarr to stop Palace taking all three points.
Ten Hag, whose side sit 11th in the table with just seven points from five games, said: “In and out of possession we played a really good game.
“The only thing I can criticise is we were not clinical enough in the box, not decisive enough.
“We should have scored but we let them stay alive in the first half.
“Last week Onana was very important by saving a penalty against Southampton.
“That double save was brilliant, it was class.”
What was not class was the two-footed jumping challenge by United defender Lisandro Martinez on Palace midfielder Daichi Kamada in the second half.
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner said: “For me it was a really heavy tackle.
“Fortunately he touched the ball and not the shin of the player. He could break his leg.
“The referee decided no red card. I don’t want to complain about the referee’s decision.
“We made many more wrong decisions than the referee.”
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