Marcus Rashford reportedly feels that former Manchester United players are ‘bullying’ him and that recent criticism of him is ‘beyond fair’.
Marcus Rashford, 26, has had a disappointing start to the season after struggling throughout the 2023/24 campaign. Last year, he scored only eight goals across all competitions, a sharp decline from his career-best 30 goals in the 2022/23 season. This lackluster performance led to his exclusion from England’s Euro 2024 squad, where the team finished as runners-up to Spain.
United supporters had hoped that the summer break would help Rashford regain his form, but he has yet to score in the first three Premier League matches of the new season. Rashford has faced criticism from former United players, including Gary Neville and Roy Keane.
A source close to Rashford claims he feels unfairly targeted compared to his teammates. The source told the i that while mistakes by others go unnoticed, Rashford’s errors receive excessive scrutiny. “The criticism directed at him feels like an onslaught, almost bullying. Fans tend to believe the negative comments from former players, which exacerbates the situation,” the source said. They also pointed out that despite the club’s £100 million investment in central strikers, Rashford is playing out wide and fulfilling his role, with the blame for missed chances not resting on him.
The comments are likely to be an unwelcome distraction for United manager Erik ten Hag ahead of Saturday’s match against Southampton. The Red Devils currently sit 14th in the Premier League after losing two of their first three games, including a damaging 3-0 defeat to Liverpool before the international break. Ten Hag will be hoping Rashford can break his goalless run against Southampton, who are second-bottom in the table and have lost all three of their matches since returning to the top flight, having conceded five goals in the process.
