Marcus Rashford has lost Man Utd fans' trust & must be benched for start of the new Premier League season

FA Cup holders United would go on to lose the Community Shield on penalties after being held to a 1-1 draw in normal time, with Alejandro Garnacho's brilliant solo goal in the 82nd minute cancelled out by a late header from Bernardo Silva. But Ten Hag's side would have been celebrating their second final victory over their noisy neighbours in the space of just three months had it not been for Rashford's incompetence.

Ten minutes before the interval, Rashford was teed up perfectly by Casemiro inside the box after a beautiful one-touch move, and he had plenty of time to set himself and guide the ball towards the far corner of the net. Alas, he somehow managed to miscue his effort a good two yards wide of the post.

Rashford was presented with an even better opportunity in the second half as Garnacho put him through one-on-one with Ederson, but the England international's first-time, left-footed shot skimmed the outside of the post on its way out for a goal kick. Garnacho reacted by clutching the top of his head in disbelief, which spoke volumes.

There was a more measured response on the bench, with new assistant coach Ruud van Nistlerooy standing up to applaud Rashford in an attempt to prevent his head from dropping, but it was the sort of chance that the former United marksman would have gobbled up in his prime. Rashford has clearly lost his edge in front of goal, as Roy Keane alluded to in the ITV studio after the game.

“We have seen Rashford score some great goals. (But) he has got to become a scorer of those chances. Be clinical," said the United legend. "You have got to hit the target and make the goalkeeper save it. You’ve got to hit the target.”

Rashford's work-rate was much improved at Wembley, as was his general body language, but that's to be expected after a long holiday and productive pre-season. United need far more than just industry from Rashford, they need him to be the difference-maker he was in 2022-23, when everything he touched seemed to turn to gold and opposition defences couldn't figure out how to pin him down.

But this version of Rashford doesn't seem to have any clue what he's going to do when he gets the ball. He lost possession five times in total against City, and didn't complete a single take-on. Forgetting about his lack of end product, Rashford still isn't having any meaningful impact on United's build-up play.

Ten Hag didn't seem to care about that, though. "I think he was several times in very good positions," the United boss told reporters. "I'm very pleased he is getting in those positions. Keep going, keep making those movements and the team will make those movements, he will score goals. He's experienced enough to deal with this and once he scores one, then the goals will come."

There is no recent evidence to support Ten Hag's feeble hypotheses. Rashford only found the net sporadically last season, and the goals didn't lead to any improvement in his finishing or general play. Ten Hag is just enabling Rashford at this point, feeding his ego instead of forcing the former academy starlet to push himself.

Rashford needs a proper shock to the system if he is to rediscover his best form. It doesn't appear to be on the cards judging by Ten Hag's latest remarks, but Rashford should really start the new season on the bench, not least due to the fact there are three more wingers in the squad far more deserving of minutes.

Rashford lined up against City in his usual spot on the left wing, while Amad Diallo started on the opposite flank as Ten Hag went with the same 4-2-2-2 formation that worked so well in the FA Cup final. Amad has been the biggest bright spark for United in pre-season and continued that trend with another electrifying display at Wembley, attacking his man at every opportunity and always looking to play incisive forward passes.

He made way for Garnacho in the 59th minute, and the Argentine then picked up from where he left off last season. Garnacho showed once again that he has evolved into United's most dangerous player when he made the breakthrough after a dizzying run into the box, which he matched with a perfectly judged strike into the bottom corner of Ederson's net.

Garnacho and Amad are both capable of operating on either flank, though the former clearly does more damage on the right. He's equally as effective going on the outside as he is cutting in on his left foot and offers United natural width in that position, which is why he's ahead of Amad and £85-million ($108m) flop Antony - who has been reduced to little more than an afterthought - at the moment.

But Ten Hag does need to find a place for Amad. The Ivorian could operate as a split-striker given his ability with both feet and agility in tight spaces, or he could simply replace Rashford on the left. He adds a different dimension in attack and has really earned a shot with his performances in 2024.

Jadon Sancho will also feel, rightly, that he should be ahead of Rashford in the pecking order. The 24-year-old has mended his relationship with Ten Hag after an impressive loan spell at Borussia Dortmund and has more to offer than Rashford when firing on all cylinders; he's a better dribbler and passer with a higher footballing IQ.

There is no reason to stick with Rashford over his more talented and mentally strong team-mates. He's now surviving purely based on his past exploits, which is just plain unfair.

Earlier this summer, it was reported that Paris Saint-Germain had a firm interest in Rashford as a potential replacement for Kylian Mbappe - who left the club before finally completing his long-awaited transfer to Real Madrid. United were said to be open to a sale if they received an offer in the region of £80m ($108m); an extraordinary stance considering Rashford had signed a new five-year contract last July.

The Red Devils probably could have demanded double the amount at that stage, but his stock has since plummeted to a low most club officials could scarcely have imagined. Getting £80m for this version of Rashford would have been a masterstroke.

But Ten Hag has no intention of letting Rashford leave now. "There are so many suggestions around Manchester United, this team. We know the truth," the Dutchman said before the Community Shield. "He's working very hard [and he is] very ambitious and motivated to have a very good season."

Rashford, meanwhile, has said he still hopes to win the Premier League and Champions League at Old Trafford. Neither of those dreams will come to fruition this season.

It would be a surprise if United even manage to get back into the Champions League, on the back of slumping to their worst-ever Premier League finish. And if they fail, with Rashford once again falling well short of expectations, English football's fallen giants may strongly regret not cashing in this summer.

England's new interim manager Lee Carsley was among the spectators at Wembley, as he starts planning for Nations League fixtures against Ireland and Finland next month. Rashford could have staked his claim for a recall, perhaps even raising questions over Gareth Southgate's decision to overlook him for the Euros.

But the chance came and went. Rashford didn't give Carsley anything to think about on his way to posting a total of just 25 touches in 83 minutes. Indeed, it's difficult to see Rashford adding to his haul of 60 England caps unless he undergoes a miraculous transformation.

The first step, though, will be winning back the fans' trust. There was a time when Rashford was protected unconditionally by the United faithful, but a large section of supporters have turned against him over the past year.

Rashford hasn't just underperformed, he's let the club down, most notably during the whole Belfast nightclub episode that led to an internal investigation. The brutal social media reaction to Rashford's Community Shield performance reflected how his relationship with the fans has been broken - perhaps beyond repair.

One user named @OnlyZaan claimed that "nepotism wins over merit" when Amad was substituted early instead of the "crap" Rashford, while @sulkfenomeno described him as "genuinely useless" and @utdhans said he "reminds me of the principal's kid".

It's certainly fair to say that Rashford wouldn't still be in this United team were it not for Ten Hag. Rashford would have been better placed for a resurgence had new part-owners INEOS sacked Ten Hag instead of handing him a new two-year deal, because it might have restored his hunger. As it stands, things could get a whole lot worse for Rashford and United before they get better.

"If you ever question my commitment to Man United, that’s when I have to speak up," Rashford said in response to his critics during a lengthy interview with the Players Tribune in February. "It’s like somebody questioning my entire identity, and everything I stand for as a man."

Rashford went on the defensive instead of analysing where he was going wrong, which will probably be the case if United get off to a bad start again this term. You can have all the potential in the world, but without the right mentality, talented players like Rashford never make it to the very top.

The only correct way to silence the doubters is to let your football do the talking. Rashford could still have a lot to offer United if he's receptive to change, especially now that has an all-time great striker like Van Nistelrooy to learn from, but history suggests he will continue to play the victim.

The countdown for Fulham's visit to Old Trafford on the Premier League's opening night has begun, and the stakes couldn't be higher. Anything less than a victory will leave Ten Hag exposed, with tough-looking fixtures against Liverpool, Crystal Palace and Tottenham to come before the end of September.

If Rashford is still on the teamsheet, it could be another long night for those packed into the home seats. He's no longer the great hope for the future, but rather the symbol of United's mediocrity, and there will be no real progress until Ten Hag realises that.