Marcus Rashford: What happens when managers publicly criticise their own players?
2025-01-27
Category: sports

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim made headlines when he claimed he would rather give a place on the bench to his 63-year-old goalkeeping coach instead of Marcus Rashford because of a perceived lack of effort.Rashford has not been part of the United matchday squad for six weeks, with Amorim claiming the England striker is not giving his "maximum" in training.His future at Old Trafford is now uncertain, with European clubs linked with a move for the 27-year-old before next week's transfer deadline.It is not the first time a Premier League manager has publicly criticised one of this players.BBC Sport has looked back at some examples to see if there is anything we can learn.
Harry Redknapp and Darren Bent
Harry Redknapp claimed his wife could have done better when Darren Bent missed a late chance in Tottenham's 1-1 draw with Portsmouth in January 2009.Redknapp said: "You will never get a better chance to win a match than that. My missus could have scored that one."Despite those comments Bent remained in Redknapp's plans and finished the 2008-09 as Tottenham's top scorer with 17 goals, before joining Sunderland that summer.Redknapp spent another three-and-a-half years at White Hart Lane, helping them reach the Champions League quarter-finals in 2011, but was sacked in June 2012.
Harry Redknapp and Adel Taarabt
Redknapp, who was by then QPR manager, did not hold back in his criticism of Adel Taarabt when he was asked why the midfielder was left out of his squad for a game against Liverpool in October 2014."I can't protect people who don't want to run and train, and are about three stone overweight," said Redknapp."He played in a reserve game the other day and I could have run about more than he did. I can't pick him."Taarabt responded by saying Redknapp was making excuses for the team's poor results, with the Hoops bottom of the Premier League at the time.The midfielder made just five more appearances for the club before joining Benfica in the summer of 2015. QPR were relegated at the end of the 2014-15 season. Redknapp took them back up via the play-offs the following season before resigning in January 2015.
Jose Mourinho and Luke Shaw
Jose Mourinho was critical of England defender Luke Shaw during his time in charge of Manchester United, questioning his commitment and fitness.After making a late substitute appearance against Everton in April 2017 Mourinho said the full-back used "his body with my brain"He added: "He was in front of me and I was making every decision for him."Shaw remains at Old Trafford but has been dogged by injury, making just three appearances this season.Mourinho was sacked in December 2018 after a poor start to the season. 
Jose Mourinho and Tanguy Ndombele
Mourinho, who had moved on to become Tottenham manager, singled out the club's Â£54m record signing Tanguy Ndombele for criticism in March 2020.After the midfielder was substituted at half-time of a game against Burnley, Mourinho said: "In the first half we didn't have a midfield."He [Ndombele] has had enough time to come to a different level."I know the Premier League is difficult, and some players take a long time to adapt to a different league."But a player with his potential has to give us more than he is giving us."It did not end well for Mourinho or Ndombele.Mourinho was sacked in April 2021 after 17 months in charge just days before a Carabao Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley.Ndombele briefly regained his place in the team during the 2020-21 campaign but spent the next three seasons on loan before being released on a free transfer in June 2024.
Kalvin Phillips and Pep Guardiola
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola claimed Kalvin Phillips was "overweight" following his return from the 2022 World Cup and was the reason why he was left out of his squad for a Carabao Cup fourth-round tie against Liverpool.Phillips would later say that the comments were "a big knock to my confidence", with Guardiola publicly apologising to the England midfielder.The former Leeds player made 27 more appearances for City before joining West Ham on loan in January 2024. He then made another loan switch to Ipswich last summer.
Erik ten Hag and Jadon Sancho
The then-Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag dropped Jadon Sancho for a match at Arsenal in September 2023 because he believed the England winger had not reached the "level" required in training to be included.Sancho responded by claiming he had been made "a scapegoat for a long time".He was forced to train away from the first team before rejoining former club Borussia Dortmund on loan in January.Ten Hag held clear-the-air talks with Sancho when he returned to United pre-season training in the summer of 2024, but the former Manchester City player joined Chelsea on a season-long loan on transfer deadline day.Ten Hag was sacked by Manchester United in October with the club 14th in the Premier League, after winning just three of their opening nine matches.
Ange Postecoglou and Timo Werner
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou said Timo Werner's performance was "not acceptable" after replacing him at half-time during a Europa League draw at Rangers in December."We need everybody, including him, to be contributing because we don't have the depth to leave people out if they perform poorly," said Postecoglou. "I expect a level of performance from some of the senior guys, and tonight wasn't that."Germany forward Werner has made just two starts and five substitute appearances since the Rangers game.Postecoglou remains in the Tottenham dugout but is under pressure after a run of eight defeats from 10 Premier League matches.