RASH CHOICE
Bullish Erik ten Hag insists Man Utd WON’T sell Marcus Rashford – despite pair STILL barely speaking
The United boss also commented on Sunday's FA Cup clash
ERIK TEN HAG has insisted there is no chance of Manchester United selling Marcus Rashford.
The England forward’s dip in form and an uneasy relationship with boss Ten Hag has sparked speculation he could be off this summer — with long-term suitors Paris Saint-Germain waiting in the wings.
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Rashford, 26, only signed a bumper £325,000-a-week contract last July, which will keep him at Old Trafford until 2028.
And Ten Hag said: “We did not sign him last season for five years with the intention to sell him now.
“He should be part of this project. It is not a subject we talk about.”
For all the Dutchman’s positivity about Rashford, their relationship is not good.
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SunSport revealed last month the duo were barely on speaking terms and that has not changed since the fallout from the player’s tequila session in Belfast.
Rashford boozed until the early hours of Friday, January 26 — calling in sick for training later that day ahead of an FA Cup fourth-round tie at Newport County.
Ten Hag felt severely let down but, after axing his striker for that game, reinstated him to the side. We are still yet to see the Rashford from last season, the forward who posted a career-best 30 goals for his club.
There has been a flicker of that form with his stunning opener in the Manchester derby.
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But he fluffed another opportunity when put clean through as the Red Devils slumped to a 3-1 defeat at the Etihad.
Against Everton last Saturday, he stepped up to take United’s second penalty after skipper Bruno Fernandes had given them the lead from the spot.
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He slotted home to make it seven goals so far for the season.
But still his all-round play has not been good and fans have started to get on his back.
Rashford’s body language is bad and that has added to the noise around him about a move.
He has kept his place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the upcoming friendlies with Brazil and Belgium but is not regarded as a starter.
Now there is no bigger or better opportunity to change the narrative than tomorrow, when bitter rivals Liverpool visit in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
There is added significance with it being United’s last chance of silverware and Jurgen Klopp’s final tilt at his second Cup.
Ten Hag said: “Some games are bigger than others and definitely Manchester United v Liverpool is big, especially when it’s the quarter-final of the FA Cup.
“We’re looking forward to it. It’s a special game, absolutely.”
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The United boss expects to have striker Rasmus Hojlund and defensive duo Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka available, while Mason Mount could be in the match-day squad for the first time since November following his calf injury.
Ten Hag will be hoping Hojlund picks up where he left off before missing the last four games through injury, as the 21-year-old Danish striker had eight goals in as many games.
United had built up some momentum with six wins, a draw and only one defeat since Boxing Day.
But that came to a halt with defeats at home to Fulham and at City — which came either side of a last-gasp 1-0 escape away to Nottingham Forest — before last Saturday’s win over Everton. Ten Hag, 54, added: “We have another good opportunity to get the momentum.
“The players showed from January we are in a very good series, a lot of wins, they have to have the belief we can do it. I feel in training, spirit, confidence.
“In such games, we always achieve very good performances.
“We had our setbacks but I don’t think in any high-rated game we had our lows, we were on top form and I am convinced we will be on Sunday.
“We play against a good team, we need our best to beat them.”
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It is ten years — almost to the day — since David Moyes said Liverpool were coming to Old Trafford as the favourites.
It was the season after United won the last of their titles as Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
And it was not what United fans wanted to hear, with the side duly thumped 3-0.
The same scoreline as when City visited a few weeks later and Moyes said they “aspired” to be like their neighbours.
They are currently as far away from being like either rival than at any point over the last decade.
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Still, it is the FA Cup, so who knows?
Old Trafford awaits.
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