Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer “thought about himself before the player” when Marcus Rashford picked up a back injury which could keep him out for three months, says former England striker Ian Wright.
Rashford, 22, came on as a substitute and then went off injured during United’s 1-0 home win over Wolves in last week’s FA Cup third-round replay.
Wright, speaking on the Monday Night Club on BBC Radio 5 Live, believes “someone should be held accountable” because it is likely to cost United.
“Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said he knew Marcus Rashford was struggling and played him against Wolves – now he’s out for three months,” said Wright.
“We’re talking about an explosive player that’s going to need to be right [to play].
“Solskjaer’s under intense pressure to get United back where they were and he’s thought about himself before he thought about the player – Solskjaer has put himself above Marcus Rashford’s health.
“Now, one of their most promising and most important players is out and that has to come to the manager’s door.”
Rashford had featured in 13 matches – starting 11 of them – from the beginning of December to when he picked up the injury on 15 January, scoring nine goals in that period.
With the score 0-0 against Wolves, he came on in the 64th minute but then went off 16 minutes later with Solskjaer then saying the decision to play him had “backfired”. because Rashford had been been “struggling for a little while”.
Speaking after the Liverpool game on Sunday, Solskjaer denied Rashford was already suffering from a back fracture before the Wolves match.
“It happened in that [Wolves] game,” he said.
Wright added: “Rashford has started every game and for him to play that much football, with the problems he is having with his back, you can’t mess around with that and Solskjaer has to take some blame in still playing him.”
After the incident, Solskjaer said Rashford would be out for at least six weeks, but reports this week suggest he might not return until April.
United are fifth, five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, while Rashford’s absence is also a blow for England with Harry Kane also out until at least April with a hamstring injury.
Article courtesy of BBC Sport
Source link
