Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has urged Marcus Rashford to take responsibility for his poor form, as he warned Manchester United risk “falling behind” if they stay at Old Trafford.
Rashford spent two nights in Belfast last month partying with friends, before returning to Manchester the following day and calling in sick. The 26-year-old missed training, and was then not involved in the FA Cup win over Newport.
It is believed that the forward was fined two weeks’ wages (£650,000) and Erik ten Hag has insisted it is now “case closed”, with Rashford returning to the team and scoring against Wolves.
That was only his fifth goal of the campaign though, in stark contrast to the 30 he managed last season, and Rashford’s former boss Solskjaer believes the latest controversy must serve as a “wake-up call”.
"Obviously I managed Marcus for three years and I know him,” Solskjaer told Reuters.
“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."
Reports in recent days have suggested that Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is acquiring a 25 per cent stake in the club, is keen for Old Trafford to become the ‘Wembley of the North’, as he eyes a state-of-the-art stadium to help revitalise United.
It remains to be seen whether that would mean a new stadium is built or Old Trafford is refurbished, but Solskjaer has insisted United should not be afraid of bold change.
"We have to move with the times and at the moment something has to happen," he said.
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"It's either renovation or a new stadium because we're falling behind if we're staying in the same place we have. It's going to divide fans for sure, because history is important. But we traded The Cliff (training ground), which was iconic for United and the Busby Babes, with Carrington.
“It looks like we might have to build a new stadium."
