Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has one talented player who should “lead the club” by the “scruff of the neck,” according to former England Under-21s boss Stuart Pearce.
Erik ten Hag endured a tough second season in charge at Old Trafford and the Dutchman is awaiting to learn more about his future at Manchester United.
The Red Devils languished to an eighth-place finish in the Premier League table, with United underwhelming in their 2023-24 season under Ten Hag.
However, Ten Hag was able to sign off the season on a high note after United produced a stunning 2-1 win over Manchester City in the FA Cup final last month.
Despite United’s triumph at Wembley last month, the 54-year-old Dutchman could still be on the chopping block ahead of the 2024-25 Premier League campaign.
Ten Hag is under contract until 2025 with United, but the former Ajax boss’ long-term future at Old Trafford has been in doubt since Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s arrival.
Pearce talks Man Utd star’s talent
Speaking on talkSPORT, Stuart Pearce dropped his verdict on Marcus Rashford after the Manchester United star failed to make England’s Euro 2024 squad.
Marcus Rashford underwent a career resurgence in Erik ten Hag’s debut season at Old Trafford and the England international impressed in the 2022-23 campaign.
However, the 26-year-old United forward struggled with his form and was criticised for his lack of consistency in the 2023-24 season for the Red Devils.
Rashford, who was also criticised for his behaviour off the field, was left out of Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024 in Germany this summer.
Pearce admitted he has watched first-hand the talent of Rashford on the pitch and that the Three Lions player should have been “leading this [England] squad.”
“You talk about Marcus Rashford,” he said, as per the Manchester Evening News.
“The last caller turned around and said it [the England squad omission] could adversely affect him. I think it should be a wake-up call to this kid.
“The talent that he has got. I have watched him at United, and every once in six games, he goes and does something, he gets you off your seat, he cuts inside and scores a wonderful goal.
“You think, you are one of our most talented players, you should be leading this squad, and you forced the England manager [Southgate] to leave you out of the squad because of your form.”
Ten Hag should have Rashford as a leader
Despite his praise for Marcus Rashford, Pearce pulled no punches towards the United star and even claimed that he lacked “real personality.”
The 62-year-old former West Ham assistant manager added that Rashford is the type of player who should “lead the club” for United boss Ten Hag.
“This is going to be harsh of me to say: he lacks real personality on a football pitch to grab his club side and take them to where they should be,” Pearce continued.
“He has been there since he was a kid. Grab the club by the scruff of the neck and lead the club. That’s the age he is at the moment.”