Erik ten Hag responds to Marcus Rashford's explosive statement about abuse from Man Utd fans

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has responded to Marcus Rashford’s statement on fan abuse.

This week, Rashford hit back at the abuse he has received from fans as he replied to a tweet that said: “The way Marcus Rashford is being treated is absolutely disgusting. It's cruel. It's abuse.”

Rashford wrote: “I appreciate your support. It is abuse and has been for months. Enough is enough.”

Speaking ahead of United’s Premier League clash against Burnley, manager Ten Hag was asked about Rashford’s statement.

He said: “I have a lot of sympathy for Rashy. Last year, he had a brilliant season, the best season in his career. He scored 30 goals. You see what he’s capable of.

“This season he didn’t give the performances and then people are very critical. I think we have to back him. Everyone should back him and push him to get back to the levels he was at last year.”

Ten Hag added: “I think he needs support. We all know what he’s capable of. We all have to support but also to push him. He can do better than he is doing this year and we have seen that last year when he was really brilliant.

“We have a lot of competition in the front line and especially, I know, front players you have to give them trust. But they have to prove it and there is coming a certain point that things turn around and go against them.

“There is always a thin line between giving them trust but yeah there is coming a point where other players will get more chances, that is clear.”

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When asked why Rashford’s form has dropped, Ten Hag said: “That is an interesting question. He knows, I know. It has to do with himself but also to do of course with the team and in the first season and a half we had problems.

“I already said our attacking game has improved a lot after the winter. But before winter our attacking game was not good enough.”

United are currently sixth in the Premier League table, 13 points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa.