Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has defended his decision to punish Marcus Rashford and insisted players โneed disciplineโ to be able to perform.
Rashford was hit with a ยฃ650,000 fine after visiting a Belfast nightclub last week before telling the club he was too ill to train.
Itโs not the first run-in Ten Hag has had with a player during his time at Old Trafford following spats with Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho but the Dutchman insists he will not change his approach when it comes to managing his squad.
โIn football, you need discipline and thatโs on the pitch but also off the pitch,โ Ten Hag told a news conference on Wednesday.
โThere is a line and every player, every professional knows this. They know what is required. We have to focus on winning football games and thatโs well that matters and every top professional knows what is required.โ
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Following a meeting between Ten Hag and Rashford on Monday, United released a statement saying the England forward had โtaken responsibilityโ for his actions and would be available for the trip to Wolves on Thursday.
When pushed on Rashfordโs reaction to the incident, Ten Hag remained tight-lipped.
โHe has taken responsibility and for the rest itโs an internal matter, case closed,โ he said.
Asked a further question about whether Rashfordโs behaviour showed a โlack of respectโ towards his manager, Ten Hag said: โItโs nothing to do with that. As I said, case closed.โ
After scoring 30 goals last season, Rashford has struggled for form this term, scoring just four times in 26 games. However, heโs scored two goals and registered two assists in his last three games and Ten Hag is hopeful the 26-year-old can carry it on.
โThere is a developing, strong bond between Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hรธjlund and we want to continue that process,โ he said.