‘Woah’: Owen says Ten Hag’s comments on one United player would ‘scare’ him in his playing days

Michael Owen was surprised by Erik ten Hag’s open admission on Marcus Rashford’s attitude prior to Sunday’s Manchester derby. 

The Manchester United forward linked up with The Players’ Tribune last week in an attempt to address the widespread criticism he’s been on the end of lately, particularly after January’s notorious Belfast clubbing incident. 

He was keen to assure the United faithful that despite his body language often looking dejected, his commitment and dedication to his boyhood club was second to none. 

“I’m not a perfect person. When I make a mistake, I’ll be the first one to put my hand up and say that I need to do better. But if you ever question my commitment to United, that’s when I have to speak up,” Rashford told the outlet.

“People will actually think I’m weird when I start talking about what United means to me. Because if you’re not me, then I’m sure it almost sounds fake. But you have to understand, when I was young, playing for United was everything.”

The 26-year-old is on the back of a career-best 30-goal campaign in 2022/2023 but has since struggled to replicate such form, having notched just six goals in 33 appearances across all competitions thus far. 

Indeed, Rashford retains the backing of Ten Hag – hence his weekly inclusion in the starting 11 – and he followed up on his interview by silencing his critics with a sensational, worldie of a strike early doors at the Etihad last weekend. He did, however, squander two huge chances later in the clash as United fell to a 3-1 defeat. 

Owen reacts to Ten Hag’s comments

Owen shared his verdict on the No.10’s current affairs at Old Trafford, telling Premier League Productions: “If I was Marcus Rashford and watching that interview we saw with Erik ten Hag, he was saying ‘if Marcus Rashford’s attitude is right he can be a top player and score goals for Manchester United’. If my manager was saying something like that, I would be like ‘Woah’. That’s your manager saying it.

“He is bringing out a statement ‘Oh, fans are questioning me. People are questioning me’. Your manager has just questioned you. Your manager has just said ‘If he has the right attitude, he could be the difference-maker’.

“That would scare me if a manager said that about me ‘if Michael Owen’s attitude is right’ – it’s not fans, not us, it’s your own manager who is questioning you as well. That should make him sit up and think ‘Right, I have got to address this’. It’s about doing it on the pitch.”