Ten Hag Addresses Rashford's 'Internal Matter' as United Grapple with Off-field Distractions

Erik ten Hag addressed Marcus Rashford’s absence from Manchester United’s FA Cup squad due to an “internal matter,” hinting at ongoing discipline issues within the team. Rashford missed the match against Newport County after reportedly being seen at a nightclub in Belfast before falling ill.

Ten Hag remained tight-lipped about the specifics stating it was an internal issue to be handled internally. Rashford’s nightclub incident is not the first as he faced criticism in the past for similar behavior. He previously spoke about a negative culture at United and has taken disciplinary action against other players.

Rashford’s struggles have been attributed partly to the club environment by former United midfielder Nicky Butt. Despite the off-field distractions, United managed a 4-2 victory over Newport County in the FA Cup with Rasmus Hojlund sealing the win in stoppage time after a tense match where Newport pulled level at 2-2 before United regained the lead.