‘Behind the scenes’ – Ex Premier League boss makes Rashford discipline claim

Former Premier League manager Sam Allardyce believes there is more to the story about Marcus Rashford’s recent omission from the starting XI against Crystal Palace last weekend.

The decision to drop Marcus Rashford for the Crystal Palace game by Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has certainly caused vast speculation in the media this week.

The former Ajax boss insisted that he made the decision because of rotation and the impressive form of Alejandro Garnacho.

However, the timing of the decision is what has caused the speculation to rise with Rashford scoring three goals in two games before he was dropped to the bench at Selhurst Park.

Rashford and Ten Hag have had several issues with discipline before, with the Dutch coach often quick to stop his players if they have gone against his rules.

It remains to be seen if anything will come to light but several ex-players and pundits believe there is more to the story.

Sam Allardyce believes Marcus Rashford was disciplined for Crystal Palace clash

Former Bolton Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce has claimed it was an odd decision to drop Rashford for the Red Devils’ trip to Selhurst Park if it was only due to rotation.

Stating that it probably is another discipline issue because the United forward was in too good form to have not been selected.

Speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast via Footy Accumulators, Allardyce said: “Speculatively, on recent activities by Marcus Rashford, you wonder whether it’s a discipline scenario again and whether something’s happened behind the scenes.

“Ten Hag is apparently extremely old school when it comes to discipline.

“You’ve got to turn up on time, no mobile phones, rightly so in my opinion. Over the years, I have relaxed on that situation, but I think in his world, that’s the way he runs a football club. 

“If you breach that then you’re going to have a discipline side to it.

It’d have to be much bigger than that, but we know in the past he’s been caught on a night out when he shouldn’t be out. It just breeds up all this speculation again doesn’t it – the whole world blows up. Why is he not playing when he’s scored three goals in two games?

“Maybe it’s that, it can’t be a rest at this early in the season, and if Marcus Rashford is scoring, Man United need him on the pitch.”