Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has insisted that while Marcus Rashford is working hard to score goals, his star forward ultimately knows he could ‘do better’.
The Red Devils were handed their fourth defeat in seven Premier League games already this season on Saturday, falling 1-0 at home to Crystal Palace.
The hosts were unable to make many clear-cut chances at Old Trafford, and despite being in need of a goal, Rashford was substituted for midfielder Christian Eriksen in the 77th minute.
After a career-best 2022/23 season in which he scored 30 goals in 56 games for United, Rashford has netted only once in eight matches to begin the new campaign.
Speaking after Saturday’s defeat to Palace, Ten Hag gave his verdict on Rashford’s slow start to the season.
“I think he knows he can do better than he does now. He works hard and that is what he is doing. He will net, he will finish and it will come but it is not going to be automatic,” the Dutchman said.
“He has to invest a lot, the team has to invest a lot around him. Today, we were in the right positions but the decision-making was not good enough and then we don’t score.”
Having taken nine points from seven games, United have made their worst start to a league season in 34 years. In that time, they have scored only seven goals, conceding 11.
Ten Hag’s men play twice more before the October international break, welcoming Galatasaray to Old Trafford in the Champions League on Tuesday before hosting Brentford in the Premier League.
What we know
- Man Utd lost 1-0 at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday as dire beginning to season continued
- Marcus Rashford hooked after 77 minutes having scored just once in opening eight games in all competitions
- Erik ten Hag is demanding more from star forward having grabbed 30 goals last year.