Ten Hag backs 'ketchup bottle' Rashford after goal

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag says Marcus Rashford has received "too much negativity" recently and backed the goals to flow like ketchup from a bottle after the striker scored in the win at Southampton.

The England forward got his side's second in the 3-0 win at St Mary's on Saturday.

It was his first goal in any competition since March, when he scored in the 4-3 win against Liverpool in the FA Cup.

Rashford, 26, received some criticism for his display in the 3-0 loss at home to Liverpool in the Premier League just before the international break, which Ten Hag felt was unfair.

"It's very important we don't pay attention to what the outside world is saying but there was too much negativity to him," said the Manchester United boss.

"He created two great chances in that game [the defeat to Liverpool], in other games this season he has played very well.

"He deserved that goal [against Southampton] but he had to work for it. That is what he is doing and then you get a reward."

Rashford has been with Manchester United for almost a decade and has scored 132 goals for the club.

Ten Hag is backing the 26-year-old to score plenty more for his boyhood club, and borrowed an analogy once used by Cristiano Ronaldo.

"Once a striker was talking about a ketchup bottle, once it's going, it’s coming more," added the Dutchman.

"He scored already so many goals for Manchester United. At his age the number of goals is amazing and I'm sure he will score many more goals."

Marcus Rashford scored eight goals last season, after scoring 30 in the previous campaign