Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag, has addressed speculation surrounding his decision to bench Marcus Rashford during their recent game against Crystal Palace. Despite Rashford's recent impressive performances, ten Hag explained that the choice to rotate the lineup was not a reflection of any issues between him and the player but simply a tactical decision. The team left Selhurst Park with a single point after a goalless draw, failing to convert multiple opportunities to take the lead in the first half.

Rashford had showcased his prowess in the previous matches, scoring goals against Southampton and Barnsley. However, his absence in the starting lineup against Crystal Palace raised eyebrows. Alejandro Garnacho, who filled Rashford's spot, struggled to capitalize on key chances, missing two clear-cut opportunities, including a shot that struck the crossbar. Despite Rashford being benched, ten Hag emphasized his satisfaction with the player's contributions and clarified that the decision was solely a rotation strategy.

Addressing concerns raised by pundits, ten Hag expressed his disappointment at the unfounded speculation surrounding Rashford's benching. Dismissing claims of any rift between him and the player, the Dutch manager reiterated that he values Rashford's efforts and highlighted that the decision was made primarily to rotate the squad. As Manchester United's draw against Crystal Palace leaves them in the bottom half of the table with seven points from five games, the team has upcoming fixtures in the Europa League against FC Twente and a Premier League clash against Tottenham.