Ten Hag: Rashford night out after derby loss ‘unacceptable’

Erik ten Hag has branded Marcus Rashford’s decision to go to a nightclub following Manchester United’s defeat to Manchester City “unacceptable” and revealed the striker has apologised.

Rashford was spotted at Manchester club Chinawhite on Sunday evening, hours after the 3-0 derby defeat.

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A source close to Rashford, who turned 26 on Tuesday, said he attended “an intimate, planned celebration in honor of his birthday at a private space in a Chinawhite hosted by his friends.”

Ten Hag suggested the England international, named on the bench for the 3-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle on Wednesday, had been disciplined and said he would be available for the trip to Fulham on Saturday.

“I am aware of this [the party] and I talked to him about it,” Ten Hag said at a news conference Friday.

“It’s unacceptable. I told him, he apologized and that’s it. For us, it’s an internal matter.”

Rashford scored 30 goals in all competitions last season and signed a new £315,000-a-week contract over the summer. But he has struggled to find form so far this season, scoring just one goal in 14 appearances.

“He’s very motivated to make things right,” Ten Hag said.

“I know how much effort he puts in. He is totally with us. I see him every day in training, what he does, I know. So he makes a mistake but also, off the field, what what he does, how he lives, and I’m sure he does whatever it takes to help the team, perform and help us win.

United travel to Fulham to bounce back from consecutive 3-0 home defeats to Manchester City and Newcastle. Ten Hag’s side are eighth in the Premier League table after losing five of their 10 games, but the Dutchman insists they will pull through.

“I’m a firm believer that sometimes you go through tough times, but when you stay together – and we are together – then you get through those tough times,” he said.