- Marcus Rashford has scored three goals and provided an assist so far this season
- Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink claims the forward is not as hungry as he once was
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Former England coach Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has slammed Marcus Rashford despite his return to form in recent weeks – claiming football is ‘not’ the forward’s main priority.
Rashford was benched for the goalless draw against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday despite scoring three goals in his previous two games.
Erik ten Hag had claimed pre-match that the decision was due to rotation, with Rashford ultimately introduced as a substitute on the hour mark as Man United chased a breakthrough.
The 26-year-old’s first goal of the season against Southampton a fortnight ago came on the back of a huge drop off which saw him miss out on a place in England’s Euros squad over the summer.
And Hasselbaink, who worked on Gareth Southgate’s backroom staff as a striker coach, has not been impressed with Rashford despite him being a ‘top player’.
Ex-Chelsea striker and England coach Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has slammed Marcus Rashford
The Man United forward has scored three goals and provided an assist so far this season
‘When you look at Marcus Rashford and you look at his body language – and I’m not saying this is true – but it looks like football is not his main priority,’ Hasselbaink told Genting Casino.
‘Do we know if Rashford can play football? Yes. Hell, yes. When he’s playing off the left and he’s playing his best football, he’s a very, very good player.
‘He’s a top player. When he was at his top level, he used to sprint so much and run in behind the defence. He used to work so hard running at defenders. That’s when Marcus is at his best… and I just don’t see that anymore.’
Hasselbaink also claimed Rashford is not fulfilling his physical capabilities and is not willing to push through the pain barrier.
‘For a player like Rashford, when one of your main attributes is that explosive pace, you have to suffer for your art,’ he said.
Hasselbaink also claimed Rashford is not fulfilling his physical capabilities as he’s not willing to push through the pain barrier
Rashford was left out of United’s starting XI last weekend, but Erik ten Hag insisted he did not drop the England star and was simply resting him
‘You have to be prepared to give everything to work as hard with and without the ball, and that means, you need to feel a little bit of pain because it takes a lot of physical power to ask your body to do that in every single game. I don’t see a player that is willing to push himself like he used to.’
Ten Hag was criticised for his decision to rotate Rashford against Palace.
Jamie Redknapp speculated that ‘something has happened’ behind the scenes at Old Trafford which could have led to Rashford being left out.
Ten Hag hit back at Redknapp for his ‘crazy’ comments, insisting that he was simply resting Rashford after a busy start to the season.
Meanwhile, Hasselbaink believes it is Rashford’s responsibility to improve and become a force alongside the league’s best attackers.
‘It’s not just Ten Hag’s responsibility for Rashford to improve, there has to be the desire from the player,’ Hasselbaink added.
‘There is no doubt that Marcus Rashford has the ability. It’s a mental thing. It’s down to him to see that improvement. Only Marcus Rashford can unlock himself.’
Rashford will seek to start for United and continue his goalscoring form when they host Tottenham on Sunday.
