ERIK TEN HAG HITS OUT AT 'STUPID' ALAN SHEARER AS MARCUS RASHFORD ROW REIGNITED

Erik ten Hag has branded Alan Shearer “stupid” for criticising Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford.

Rashford has endured a difficult start to the season and was substituted in the 64 ^th minute of United's 2-1 defeat at Brighton last weekend. Former England and Newcastle striker Shearer, speaking in his role as a pundit on Match of the Day, laid into Rashford, 26, in the wake of his performance.

"He's had two games this season, Marcus Rashford, and he's not had one shot at goal," said Shearer. "57 goals they [United] scored last season. That was the worst in the top half. So Ruud Van Nistelrooy has been brought into there. He's going to have to work his magic somehow.

"I know they've got [Rasmus] Hojlund out injured, but when he comes in he's going to have to improve on that because on today's evidence and in the game against Brighton it's not been anywhere near good enough in front of goal."

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Asked about Shearer's criticism of Rashford, Ten Hag, whose side host arch rivals Liverpool on Sunday, said: "Everyone gets criticism from you guys, it doesn’t matter what we are doing, 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 set to announce the £50million signing of midfielder Manuel Ugarte from Paris St Germain today and the departure of Scott McTominay to Napoli for £25m. “I can’t tell you more than you already know,” said Ten Hag. “It is not completed yet. We expect it, but I can’t confirm it.

“To make the change, it is not a comparison that you can compare those players [Ugarte and McTominay]. We had three No.10s and we didn’t have any more holding midfield players, apart from one, so that was the idea.”

Jadon Sancho is expected to leave before the transfer deadline, with Juventus and Chelsea the two clubs interested in signing the winger. But Ten Hag was not giving anything away when asked about Sancho's future. “He's playing in the squad and we are happy with him,” said Ten Hag.

“We need a good squad, we need depth. We have to play many games until January with the new European format. After the break, we play every third day, so we need options.”

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2024-08-30T13:41:02Z dg43tfdfdgfd