September 23rd 2024.
Marcus Rashford, one of Manchester United's key players, was surprisingly on the bench for their match against Crystal Palace. This decision has caused quite a stir, with former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira criticizing Rashford's body language and praising manager Erik ten Hag's choice to drop him.
Rashford had been in great form, scoring a stunning goal in their previous match against Southampton and bagging two more in their midweek game against Barnsley. However, he had to settle for a place on the bench this time, with young talents Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo getting the nod to support Joshua Zirkzee up front.
Ten Hag had previously called out Rashford for his lack of professionalism, but he insisted that the decision to bench him was purely tactical and for rotation purposes. While Rashford did come on in the 61st minute, he was unable to make a difference as United were held to a goalless draw, their third in the Premier League this season.
Reflecting on the match, Vieira expressed his belief that Palace would be satisfied with the point, considering they were up against a top four-chasing United. He also pointed out that United had created more chances, but their lack of ruthlessness and aggression in front of goal let them down.
Vieira felt that Rashford's disappointment at being subbed on may have affected his performance. When asked if Ten Hag's decision to bench Rashford was a mistake, he replied that the manager would have considered the player's performance in training before making the decision. He also urged Rashford to reflect on why he wasn't starting for United and to do more to meet the club's expectations.
According to Vieira, United still have a long way to go if they want to compete with the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal for the Premier League title. He believes that the club's heavy investments in recent years should have put them in a better position, but they still have some catching up to do.
Despite the criticism, Rashford remains a key player for United, and fans can expect to see him back in the starting line-up soon. It's clear that the club expects more from him, and it's up to him to prove his worth and earn his spot back in the team. As for United's title chances this season, only time will tell if they can close the gap and challenge the top teams in the league.
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