Alan Shearer suggests he knows real reason why Marcus Rashford was dropped by Erik ten Hag vs. Crystal Palace | OneFootball

Legendary Premier League striker Alan Shearer has suggested that there are off-the-pitch issues between Marcus Rashford and Erik ten Hag, and that’s why the player was dropped from the starting XI vs. Crystal Palace over the weekend.

United were held to a frustrating stalemate by Palace at Selhurst Park.

When the lineup came out, Rashford was the shock exclusion. Heading into the clash, the England international had scored his first goals of the season in the week prior, including a sensational brace in the 7-0 Carabao Cup win over Barnsley.

However, against Oliver Glasner’s men, he was unexpectedly named on the bench, with Alejandro Garnacho starting on the left of attack.

Ten Hag insisted that his decision to leave Rashford was purely based on the need to rotate in an effort to keep the players fresh.

However, Shearer didn’t buy it as he speculated that there might be more than meets the eye.

Alongside Gary Linker on The Rest is Football podcast, Shearer suggested that Rashford may have committed another disciplinary mistake that forced Ten Hag to take action.

Lineker said, “It looks like, reading between the lines, it might be some disciplinary issues because he (Ten Hag) kind of mooted that in his press conference that ‘Marcus has got to be professional’.”

Shearer agreed and further stated, “Why else would you leave him out? When things have been criticised, and I was one of them, for performances, but then you get your goal last weekend.”

“You get another couple in midweek. Why would you actually even contemplate leaving him out? My guess is, and it is a guess, it has to be something different.”

During his pre-match presser, Ten Hag spoke about Rashford’s professionalism.

The Dutchman pointed out that the 26-year-old star needed to get his lifestyle right and lead a disciplined life if he is to consistently perform at the highest level.

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