Erik Ten Hag claims Marcus Rashford of Manchester United can be further motivated by England’s exclusion

According to Erik ten Hag, Marcus Rashford will use his lackluster season and exclusion from the England team as “fuel” to perform well.

The 26-year-old was not included in Gareth Southgate’s 33-man preliminary roster that was revealed on Tuesday for the European Championship in Germany this summer.

The player had a difficult domestic season and has only scored eight goals for United so far, compared to an amazing thirty goals the season before.

But Ten Hag said he was very much encouraged by what he had seen in practice this week when questioned about Rashford’s mental state ahead of Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup final against Manchester City.

“He appears well,” Ten Hag remarked. “I observe in training that a career has ups and downs, and that a down can also serve as fuel.”

He will therefore be extremely driven and, as you mentioned, communicate with his feet. Given his talent and established career, I have little doubt that he will overcome this setback and pursue even greater ambitions.

Since our thrilling semi-final victory over Coventry at Wembley, which we won in a nail-biting penalty shootout after Rashford had to leave the field due to an injury, Rashford has not started for the Reds.