OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has said that Marcus Rashford’s Belfast bender must act as a “wake-up call” to get the forward back to his best.
Solskjaer, who managed Manchester United between 2018 and 2022 has not given many interviews since his dismissal as manager.
ReutersSolskjaer hopes Rashford’s dropping can act as a ‘wake-up call’[/caption]
But he has waded into the Rashford debate after the player was disciplined by Erik ten Hag for visiting a Belfast night club and subsequently calling in sick for training.
He was dropped from the squad for United’s FA Cup fourth round trip to Newport last month, but has since returned to the starting XI.
The forward scored on his return against Wolves and Erik ten Hag insisted the matter has now been put to bed.
And now Solskjaer has said the player’s misdemeanours can act as a catalyst to get the forward performing at a consistently-high level again.
Rashford netted a career-high 30 goals last season, but has managed just six so far in this campaign.
Solskjaer said: “Obviously I managed Marcus for three years and I know him. It’s not my job to go out and discuss his performances, but last season he was fantastic and it’s about consistency in football.
“Marcus and many others haven’t hit the heights this season. I’m sure he had a wake-up call last week and hopefully that will spur him on.
“Is it the manager’s job to get the best out of him, or is it mostly himself or any player’s responsibility to get the best out of yourself? I think that’s more it.”
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“He’s had a fantastic career, some ups and downs.
“Now we hope he’s going to hit that consistency, because I know and we all know there’s a top player there. It’s difficult to be at the top all the time, but it takes sacrifice.”
Solskjaer breaking his silence on Rashford comes after Gareth Southgate also said he is keeping a close eye on his England players ahead of picking his next England squad.
When asked about Rashford’s partying, Southgate said: “We’re five weeks away from picking a squad. So much happens to players over the period between November and March that we’re always sitting and observing everything on and off the pitch.
“In a few weeks’ time we’ll have decisions to make on the whole squad and there’s going to be a lot of attention on that because it’s the final squad before the Euros.”
He also confirmed he had not yet spoken to Rashford about his misdemeanours off the field, saying: “I haven’t spoken to many of our players at all since December. I’ve let them get on with their club football.
“Generally they are back from their clubs and it’s not for me to interfere.”
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