MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has branded criticism of Marcus Rashford‘s early season form as “stupid.”

Rashford missed a number of chances during the Community Shield defeat to Manchester City and was substituted early by Ten Hag in the 2-1 defeat to Brighton on Saturday.

The 26-year-old’s performance at the Amex Stadium was heavily criticised by former England striker Alan Shearer, but Ten Hag insisted on Friday he is happy with the forward.

“Everyone gets criticism; it doesn’t matter what we are doing, if we are winning, if we are losing,” Ten Hag told a news conference.

“If I take a player off, the conclusion is I was not happy with him. I was very happy with Rashy in preseason, against Fulham and also against Brighton.

“It is not why I took him off because his performances or level were not right. No.

“We had to rotate and we have good players on the bench as well, you bring new energy. There will be rotation and if then there is the conclusion the player is not performing, [it] can be sometimes but definitely it wasn’t in this case. Stupid analysis in this case from the pundit.”

United have confirmed that they won’t have Manuel Ugarte available for Liverpool’s visit to Old Trafford on Sunday.

Despite his impending move, the midfielder has not been registered in time and will have to wait for his debut.

Ten Hag will also be without Scott McTominay, who is on the verge of a move to Napoli and the Dutchman has revealed he is not completely happy that the Scotland international has been allowed to leave.

“It is a little bit mixed,” he said. “I am very happy for him but it is mixed because I wouldn’t prefer to lose him.

“He is Man United in everything. He was so important for Man United. He was here for over 22 years but unfortunately it is the rules.

“Homegrown players bring more value and that is not the right thing to do but for everyone, for all parts, it is a good deal. Scott is happy with it, and Napoli and us.”