2 Erik ten Hag has told Marcus Rashford he must "set his life right" if he wants to reach his highest level in a Manchester United shirt.
Speaking in the embargoed press-conference ahead of this weekend's Premier League fixtures, the Dutchman was asked about the "incidents" Rashford was involved in last season - which called into question the 26-year-old's professionalism and attitude - and whether he had learned from them.
Rashford was internally disciplined after missing training following a trip to Belfast ahead of a fourth-round tie in the FA Cup.
As a result of these actions, the forward was omitted from the squad for the match against Newport County, but was reinstated to the starting eleven the following game.
There were other issues earlier in the season as well, most notably when Rashford celebrated a birthday party late into the night after United had lost three-nil to local rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford.
In response, Ten Hag replied: "I think [Rashford] always knew.
Every player knows, because when your lifestyle is not right you can't perform in the leagues we have to perform, and you don't get the right levels when you don't have a disciplined life away from Carrington.
" "You don't get the right levels when you don't have a good and disciplined life away from Carrington.
"Erik ten Hag says Marcus Rashford has to "set his life and attitude right" to perform.
#MUFC #bbcfootball- BBC Sport Manchester (@BBCRMsport) September 20, 2024 The Dutchman believes it is firmly in the 26-year-old's own hands as only he possesses the ability to translate his talents on the pitch consistently.
"At end of the day, he has to do it by himself.
He has to set his life right, his training attitude right, his match attitude right.
When he sets his professionalism, he will perform because he is a class player," Ten Hag stated.
"I think every player who plays in the Premier League, but definitely in this club, you need some resilience.
Not any football career is only the way up, you always go down.
You have to deal with it.
"Marcus Rashford has also experienced, he knows when there are setbacks how to get fightback, how to set his career, his performance.
he took control of it and I think he is on the way back.
He has started the season very well but now he has to continue and to progress.
"Rashford has demonstrated this "class" with a resurgence in form recently with goals in back-to-back victories over Southampton and Barnsley in the past week.
These goals, and the confidence they will always give to a forward, lead Ten Hag to conclude that, "I think he is on his way back.
"The 54-year-old coach also believes Rashford will "always be an option for every manager" of England, despite the 26-year-old being dropped from Gareth Southgate's squad for EURO 2024 this summer.
Southgate's interim replacement, Lee Carsley, chose not to reinstate Rashford to the squad for the Three Lions' recent friendlies, though Ten Hag's words suggest the Dutchman believes this absence will not continue for long.
United travel to the capital tomorrow evening to play Crystal Palace.
Last season's fixture produced a dismal 4-0 drubbing at the hands of the South London side with the Red Devils firmly embarrassed at Selhurst Park.
Ten Hag and his squad, with Rashford chief among them, will be desperate to avenge this painful loss and continue to build on the fine form displayed over the last two games.
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