Patrick Vieira agrees with Erik ten Hag as he wades in on Marcus Rashford saga
Manchester United were held to a goalless draw by Patrick Vieira's former club Crystal Palace after Erik ten Hag left Marcus Rashford out of the starting line-up
by Tom Victor · The MirrorPatrick Vieira backed Erik ten Hag after the Manchester United manager took Marcus Rashford out of his starting line-up to face Crystal Palace.
Ten Hag claimed it was a straighforward decision to drop Rashford to the bench due to the need to rotate. The changed starting XI looked strong early on, but Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson kept the visitors at bay at Selhurst Park.
Rashford came on as a substitute during the second half, but couldn't find a breakthrough. Indeed, Palace arguably had the better chances, with some Andre Onana heroics keeping the scores level.
Speaking on NBC Sports, former Palace boss Vieira sympathised with Ten Hag despite the dropped points. Rashford has been in and out of the side after a tough few months in front of goal, and the Frenchman called upon the England international to take stock.
"A mistake? No," Vieira said. "I think the manager, looking at the week of training, that will help him to make the best decision.
"I think Rashford should ask himself why he doesn't start at Manchester United. And I think he has to do more because the manager the fans, the club, they expect more from him. I think when you're looking at when he came on today, I thought he was disappointed. And I think that didn't help him.
"I think when a player like him, coming from the bench, he has to make a point and making a point is showing that the manager was wrong not to start him. I think when you look at his performance today, the manager was right not to start him."
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Before the game, Ten Hag was asked by Sky Sports why he opted to leave Rashford out and bring in Alejandro Garnacho. The Argentine winger came off the bench to score in United's last league game but couldn't repeat the trick, though he did crash one first-half effort off the woodwork.
"It was not difficult because we need to rotate," Ten Hag said. "Because we have many games to cover and we have to give Alejandro games - and as we have all seen, he has such a lot of end product, scored so many goals, so many assists, but often as a sub. Also needs starts - he's had just one start this season."
Pundit Jamie Redknapp speculated that something wasn't quite right between manager and player, given Rashford's three goals in his previous two games. "I don't know the details. But you don't drop a player that has scored two in midweek and against Southampton," Redknapp said on Sky Sports. "I'd be nervous to say he is back but he is showing signs of the Rashford from two years ago."
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