Man Utd urged to support Marcus Rashford as he 'faces difficult time off the pitch’
Marcus Rashford has been struggling at Manchester United, and Emmanuel Petit claims he's been told of private turmoil that could be contributing to his woes.
His lacklustre showings led to him being dropped from Gareth Southgate's England squad for Euro 2024 this summer, marking his first absence from a major international tournament in 10 years.
With United's top goal threat Rasmus Hojlund sidelined due to injury, the onus is on Rashford to step up and deliver. However, he hasn't started the season as hoped, and Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit believes his performances have been affected by troubles in his personal life.
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"I've been told that he's been through a difficult moment in his private life," the Frenchman claimed on the Seaman Says podcast via Betway. "We have all been through difficult times when you need help.
"If it doesn't come from your family or friends, it must come from the club, and you need to share sometimes. It is important for clubs to focus not only on the football player but on the human being as well.
"Most don't want to interrupt into their private lives, but sometimes they should do until a certain limit. Because I think you are under contract, you are earning a lot of money, so you are responsible. They are expecting something back from you."
Rashford has been far from his best for a long time now (Image: Getty)
Rashford faced fresh criticism for his lack of impact in United's 3-0 home defeat to Liverpool on Sunday. He failed to threaten the goal himself, albeit playing a couple of pinpoint crosses to set up promising chances for Joshua Zirkzee.
Erik ten Hag's decision to substitute Alejandro Garnacho instead of Rashford midway through the second half was met with disapproval from the home crowd. Last week, Ten Hag defended the Englishman after Newcastle United icon Alan Shearer criticised him for not having a single shot on target in United's first two matches.
He dismissed Shearer's comments as "stupid", saying: "Everyone gets criticism from you guys, it doesn't matter what we are doing. If we are winning, if we are losing, if I take a player off, the conclusion is I was not happy with him.
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"I was very happy with Rashy in pre-season, against Fulham and also against Brighton. It is not why I took him off because his performances or level were not right - no, we had to rotate and we have good players on the bench as well, you bring new energy.
"There will be rotation and if then there is the conclusion the player is not performing. Can be sometimes, definitely it wasn't in this case. Stupid analysis in this case from the pundit."
The Red Devils find themselves in 14th place in the Premier League after two losses in their first three games. They next face a trip to Southampton after the international break, followed by a Carabao Cup third-round clash with Barnsley at Old Trafford.
