Manchester United fans have differing opinions on Marcus Rashford’s ‘gesture’ towards Casemiro before the club’s 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace.
United’s Premier League season has seen them lose four of their opening seven games, with a home defeat against Palace under Erik ten Hag’s management.
Despite promising victories over Burnley and Palace in the Carabao Cup, Joachim Andersen’s first-half goal earned Roy Hodgson’s team all three points in their second encounter with United in five days.
As a result, Palace has now overtaken United in the Premier League standings, while Ten Hag’s side has amassed just nine points from their initial seven games. Notably, Hodgson has become the first manager to remain undefeated in five consecutive away Premier League games at Old Trafford.
Naturally, United fans on social media were widely furious at the result and the club’s start to the season on and off the pitch.
Moreover, some were critical of talisman Rashford, who struggled to impose himself on the game against Palace.
Indeed, a small contingent of supporters on X, the social media platform formally known as Twitter, were also scathing of Rashford’s decision to allow Casemiro to exit the tunnel ahead of him before the game.
Some supporters perceived the gesture as an attempt from Rashford to present himself as United’s “poster boy”.
Referencing the incident one supporter said: “Waiting for a 5x CL winner to go ahead of him so he can feel like the poster boy. Friendly reminder that this is the same guy that can’t even start ahead of [Phil] Foden and [Bukayo] Saka in the national team. Ego of [Cristiano] Ronaldo, footballing ability of Gabby Agbonlahor.”
Waiting for a 5x CL winner to go ahead of him so he can feel like the poster boy….
Friendly reminder that this is the same guy that can’t even start ahead of Foden and Saka in the national team. Ego of Ronaldo, footballing ability of Gabby Agbonlahor pic.twitter.com/xMSdFNzjER
— Z (@zeleLUHG) October 1, 2023
Another said: “Disgusted by this.” A third furiously claimed: “Waiting to walk out last like he has just won the Ballon d’Or.”
However several other supporters leapt to the defence of Rashford, claiming the moment was of little significance.
One person said: “Letting him go first means absolutely nothing, but of course, let’s find something negative.”
A second person said: “United fans are really attacking Rashford? Where have you guys been all along?”
A third said: “Could be superstition many players have routines before games?”