Marcus Rashford has hit back at critics who questioned his commitment to Manchester United after being dropped for disciplinary issues this season by manager Erik ten Hag.
The 26-year-old England international was on the sidelines during United's 4-2 FA Cup fourth-round win victory against Newport County this month, days after being spotted in night clubs in Belfast.
Rashford bagged a career-high 30 goals last season but has only score five times for United this campaign but he is of the opinion that he has been treated unfairly by the media.
"When I make a mistake, I'll be the first one to put my hand up and say that I need to do better. But if you ever question my commitment to Man United, that’s when I have to speak up," the forward wrote for The Players Tribune.
"I grew up here. I have played for this club since I was a boy. My family turned down life-changing money when I was a kid so I could wear this badge.
"If you start questioning my commitment to this club and my love for football then I'd simply ask you to have a bit more humanity."
Rashford was lauded during the COVID-19 pandemic when he launched a child food poverty campaign, which led to a government U-turn in 2020.
United's player of the year last season believes his activities off the pitch have also been criticised.
"I was just trying to use my voice to make sure that kids weren't going hungry because I know exactly how it feels," he said. "For some reason, that seemed to rub certain people the wrong way.
"It seems like they've been waiting for me to have a human moment so they can point the finger and say, 'See? See who he really is?'.
United currently sit in sixth place in the Premier League, eight points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa.
"I promise you, the world has not seen the best of this United squad and these players. We want to be back playing in the Champions League," Rashford said.
"We just have to keep working, and that starts with me."
Comments