Rio Ferdinand details Rashford training incident and how Ten Hag responded (original) (raw)
Rio Ferdinand spotted Marcus Rashford doing extra training and was surprised to see the forward in good spirits, though Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag had an immediate response
Rio Ferdinand made an important observation when visiting Man Utd's Carrington training ground
Rio Ferdinand was stunned to see Marcus Rashford laughing and joking in Manchester United training after his tumultuous year on and off the pitch.
Former United centre-back Ferdinand was back at the club’s Carrington training complex last week to interview manager Erik ten Hag. The legendary defender’s awkward reunion with Ten Hag came just hours after his interview with Cristiano Ronaldo was released, in which Ronaldo was critical of Ten Hag’s mentality and lack of ambition.
Ferdinand insisted he was nonetheless received warmly by Ten Hag and the players, who he was surprised to see were in good spirits despite losing two of their three league matches at that point, resulting in criticism in the media and from fans. One player that stood out was Rashford, who Ferdinand witnessed doing extra training alongside captain Bruno Fernandes, with both stars clearly enjoying themselves.
The difference between Rashford’s morale there and on matchdays surprised Ferdinand, as he had cut a frustrated figure all throughout last season when suffering from poor form or confronting fans. But Ten Hag quickly pointed out that this is how the 26-year-old always is in training, away from the cameras and bright lights.
The pundit recalled on Rio Ferdinand Presents: “I liked what I saw when I walked in there the other day, I have to say. The atmosphere felt as clean and pure as I’ve seen it for a while. Smiles everywhere.
“I was walking and talking with Erik ten Hag doing an interview, training had finished, and I walked around. I was looking at the pitch and two players were on there doing extras - shooting. Cracking up, laughing, doing a competition. Bruno and Marcus Rashford.
Marcus Rashford was enjoying himself in Man Utd training (
Image:
Manchester United via Getty Imag)
“It warmed my heart, you know, because we used to talk so much about Rashford not looking happy. I’ve been one of the main voices saying that we need to see a happy, smiling, joyful Marcus to get the best out of him.
“I stopped the interview and said ‘look Marcus is laughing, he looks happy man! That ain’t the Marcus I keep seeing on the weekends’, and the manager said ‘This is the Marcus we see here everyday’.”
Marcus Rashford has cut a frustrated figure over the past year (
Image:
AFP via Getty Images)
The United squad had just returned from international duty when Ferdinand visited Carrington, with their last result being a 3-0 drubbing at home by Liverpool. They bounced back on Saturday with a 3-0 win at Southampton, where Rashford ended a 13-game drought with an impressive individual goal.
A desperately needed victory leaves United with two wins and two losses after four league games. Ten Hag, who came under huge pressure following the Liverpool defeat, now sees his side in 10th place.
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