Ten Hag Backs Rashford To Turn England Omission Into Motivation For FA Cup

Erik ten Hag has encouraged Marcus Rashford to channel his recent disappointment into motivation ahead of the FA Cup final this weekend. Rashford was left out of Gareth Southgate's provisional 33-man squad for the upcoming European Championship, following a season where he netted only eight goals. This is a stark contrast to his 30-goal performance during the 2022-23 campaign.

Rashford aims to make an impact at Wembley as Manchester United face Manchester City in a repeat of last year's final. United must win to secure European football, which they have not missed out on in a decade. Ten Hag is confident that the 26-year-old will respond positively to his setback. "He looks good," said the United head coach. "A career has ups and downs, and a down can also give you fuel and that is what I see in training."

Ten Hag added, "He is very talented and already has a big career, and I am sure he will get over this and make even more goals." Rashford's season had a highlight against City when he scored a stunning 25-yard goal in a 3-1 defeat at the Etihad in March.

Reflecting on that match, Ten Hag noted, "At the Etihad, we were very good in the game for 70 minutes and had opportunities to go ahead. They could substitute, but we didn't have the players on the bench. That is a big difference." He believes that United are now in a stronger position to compete with their rivals.

"On Saturday, we will have a bench and will have a much stronger side," Ten Hag concluded. The FA Cup final promises to be a crucial match for both teams, with significant implications for their respective seasons.

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The upcoming FA Cup final will be pivotal for Rashford and Manchester United as they seek redemption and aim to secure their place in European football next season.