Erik ten Hag hits back at pundit criticism over Marcus Rashford benching – after Jamie Redknapp questioned Man United manager’s rotation claim

Erik ten Hag has doubled down on his criticism of Jamie Redknapp after the Sky Sports pundit questioned his reasons for dropping Marcus Rashford at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Redknapp claimed that something must have gone on behind the scenes after Ten Hag spoke about the importance of Rashford having the right lifestyle in the build-up to the game and then benched him for the goalless draw at Selhurst Park despite having scored three goals in his two previous games.

Ten Hag rounded on Redknapp after the game, branding his comments ‘crazy’, and was asked about it again at Carrington on Tuesday when he spoke ahead of United’s Europa League tie against FC Twente.

‘I didn’t understand the criticism,’ he said. ‘People are entitled if they want to, but what they are not entitled to do is to bring speculation. If I give an explanation they have to trust my words. If they don’t, that’s not right.’

Ten Hag confirmed that there will be no new additions to his squad against Twente after welcoming Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount back from injury at Palace.

Ten Hag’s decision to leave Marcus Rashford on the bench was scrutinised by pundits

Redknapp suggested something had happened behind the scenes for Rashford to be dropped

Luke Shaw, who hasn’t played for United since February, is close to returning but Ten Hag admitted there is no guarantee the England defender will be back before the international break.

‘I think it’s probably, but I’m not 100 per cent sure,’ he added. ‘The plan is just be back before but, as I say, I can’t say this 100 per cent. It can be shortly after the break.’

Wednesday’s game sees Ten Hag facing the club where he started out as a player in Holland and later coached. He said: ‘I would have preferred to play against somebody else. It’s not nice to have to hurt something you love.

‘Twente has brought me a lot. I was put through their academy, I was part of the first youth team when the youth competition was started up again after many years. So for me there is a great deal of history there. Of all the teams, Twente is the team I follow the most. I watch them as a fan, as a supporter, not as an analyst. It’s a different way of watching their games.’