Marcus Rashford myth dispelled after Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s comment analysed

Marcus Rashford was heavily criticised following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s interview with The Overlap after speaking about the 4-1 defeat against Watford in November 2021.

Solskjær, 51, conducted his first major video interview since he departed Old Trafford two and a half years ago. He was alongside Gary Neville, Ian Wright, Roy Keane, Jamie Carragher and Jill Scott.

The former United player, first-team coach and manager revealed interesting details about the club’s failed pursuit of Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice, as well as being ignored about signing Erling Haaland.

Solskjær also spoke about the difficulties at the end of his tenure as manager, including his final game in charge against Watford, in which United found themselves 2-0 down at the break.

“I knew at half-time, absolutely 100%, against Watford, that was it,” admitted Solskjær.

“The team talk at half-time was about whoever wants to play can play. Put your hand up if you don’t want to play. Made a few changes, a couple of the lads were in tears.”

Following these comments, some United fans looked back to see that Solskjær replaced both Scott McTominay and Marcus Rashford at half-time in that game. People had assumed that the pair asked the manager to be brought off.

However, Andy Mitten, a journalist who has worked closely with Solskjær, has since explained that Solskjaer has told him this is untrue, and none of the starting XI put their hands up.

“This suggestion that players put their hands up not to play the second half at Watford is not true,” Mitten posted on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

“They all wanted to play. Scott McTominay and Marcus Rashford were subbed. Ole’s decision. Rashford had been injured. Scott wasn’t playing well. That’s it.”

Questioned on his source for the information, Mitten added: “Ole told me… I speak to Ole all the time. He’d do it [provide clarification] himself if he was on social media.”

It has been well reported that Rashford regularly played through injury under Solskjær, and the Norweigan manager praised McTominay several times in the interview with Neville and co.