by Inside the story of Marcus Rashford’s trip to Belfast last week there were many details about what he did: from how many drinks he drank to what he ordered for dinner. Imagine being a 26-year-old going through a tough time professionally, making a bad decision and all the details being plastered all over the papers and websites. Few industries are subject to this level of disruption, which makes it important for a young man like Rashford to find the right balance.
I will not condone what Rashford did. It was a bad decision to be in a nightclub in Northern Ireland until the early hours of a workday before calling in sick. Although he is young anyway, he has been at the top of this industry for almost a decade and should understand what is and is not acceptable.
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However, footballers are held to a higher standard than most because they are seen as role models thanks to their financial success and popularity among supporters. Footballers should be allowed to enjoy themselves but Rashford’s timing was clearly poor. He knows he will be recognized, so it is very difficult to go incognito. Likewise, it is wise to move on from the situation. He is not the first person to find himself in hot water with an event of this nature and he certainly won’t be the last.
Rashford is struggling with his form, unable to replicate the highlights of recent seasons. When everything is going right for a player their thinking is clearer, allowing them to make better decisions on and off the field. Manchester United is a high pressure environment with very high expectations. Performances mean his place in the team is under scrutiny, which can be a heavy burden.
In almost any other job if you want to blow off some steam, no one outside of your immediate work environment will care. Along with Rashford, the world considers his extracurricular activities remarkable. Few of us can look back on our mid-20s and say we consistently made wise choices. We don’t have too many 26-year-old business executives because some mistakes must be made along the way to consistently well-thought-out decisions. Everyone makes mistakes, you accept them, you learn and you move on.
It is reassuring to see that Rashford has admitted his error of judgment and has held talks with Erik ten Hag to resolve the matter satisfactorily, ensuring he is available for Thursday’s trip to Wolves. The best way for a footballer to compensate is to be productive in games. Most indiscretions can be forgotten when one is providing value on the field.
Ten Hag has made it clear since his appointment that the discipline of his players is central to his methods and that United want everyone to align to achieve the team’s potential. “In football you need control and that’s on the field but also off the field,” he said on Wednesday. He added that “all top professionals know what is required”. Those who abide by the rules will find those who break them, although Rashford is not the first to fall on the wrong side of the line at United.
There will be frustration in the dressing room and Rashford will have to respond to team-mates who feel let down by a key member of the squad who can make the difference between winning and losing. I would be disappointed if my teammate couldn’t train after being in a nightclub, regardless of the legitimacy of their illness. But the rest of me would be thinking I need to check in with this player and find out why they did it, ask if everything else is okay in my teammate’s life. The human side in my thought process would interfere because you have to look out for your colleague and colleague.
It’s a crucial few months for Rashford as he aims to find form ahead of the Euros in Germany this summer and these headlines won’t go down well with Gareth Southgate. United, meanwhile, will be desperate to qualify for the Champions League against the backdrop of Ineos’ investment, which could bring big changes. Rashford wants to be at the forefront of a new era at the club he has grown up with.
Rashford was wrong and, most importantly, he knows it. He also knows that the best way to serve his fans, teammates and coaches is to do the daily job to the best of his ability. Making smart decisions isn’t just about knowing when to pass or shoot; it comes in all aspects of life for footballers who are under the microscope. Mistakes are part of the rich tapestry of life and what we learn from them is most important.
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