Erik ten Hag hits out at Marcus Rashford for birthday party hours after derby defeat - 'It's unacceptable'

Erik ten Hag has said it was “unacceptable” that Marcus Rashford attended a birthday party just hours after Manchester United were soundly beaten 3-0 by their city rivals at Old Trafford last weekend.

A report in the Manchester Evening News stated that after Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side continued their recent derby domination, Rashford, who turned 26 on Tuesday, went to the Chinawhite nightclub with team-mate Tyrell Malacia and a group of close friends and family.

He was not pictured at the event but Ten Hag, whose future as United manager is under scrutiny, told the media he had discussed it with the England international ahead of a crucial Premier League match against Fulham, live on TNT Sports.

"Yes, I am aware of it, I spoke with him about it,” Ten Hag said. “It's unacceptable. I told him. He apologised and that's it. For the rest, it's an internal matter.”

As well as Ten Hag, Rashford is under pressure to improve after a disappointing start to the campaign. So often United’s star man last season, he has contributed just one goal in 14 appearances this campaign.

The forward started on the bench as Newcastle followed in City’s footsteps, leaving the Theatre of Dreams with a 3-0 victory and a place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals at the expense of the defending champions.

Critics have suggested this group of players do not possess the character to help turn the club’s fortunes around after a dismal run of eight defeats in 15, but Ten Hag rubbished that claim in the case of Rashford.

“Your suggestion is not right,” the Dutchman added. “He is very motivated to put things right. I know how much effort he is putting in. He is totally with us.

“He makes a mistake but it doesn’t say he is not fitting in. I see every day with the training what he is doing, I know.

“So he makes one mistake but also off the pitch what he is doing, how he lives and I am sure he is doing everything right to help the team and to perform and to let us win.”

United travel to Fulham on Saturday lunchtime, and Ten Hag presented a defiant figure ahead of the crunch clash at Craven Cottage.

“The players are hard to beat but in this moment, after two defeats, we didn't show it," he said. "I'm convinced in the long term the players will be hard to beat and they know how to do it.

“We have to win and I don't want to find excuses if we don't win. We have to be more pragmatic.”

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