'Rubbish from him!' - Gary Neville fumes at what Man United star did before Tottenham opener

Gary Neville called out Marcus Rashford for the Tottenham opener.
-Credit: (Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)


Gary Neville has slammed "rubbish" Marcus Rashford for his role in Tottenham's opening goal against Manchester United. Ange Postecoglou's swashbuckling team took the lead within three minutes at Old Trafford when Brennan Johnson scored for the fourth game in a row.

Johnson tapped home from close-range after Micky van de Ven's sublime solo run. The Netherlands centre-back picked the ball off Rashford before driving from inside his own half and into the United box. Van de Ven, who had dribbled at least 60 yards, then had the composure to drill the ball across the face of goal for Johnson, unmarked at the back post, to tuck beyond a rooted Andre Onana.

It was a fine individual piece of brilliance from Netherlands regular van de Ven to set up the goal, but Neville, who was on co-commentary for Sky Sports, decided to criticise Rashford for his role in the build-up. "Absolutely brilliant from van de Ven, one of the best runs I've ever seen from a centre-back," Neville said.

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"I said Spurs had started the better, but van de Ven just steps in and this is absolutely incredible, he drives through four Manchester United players and the cross is wonderful... Rashford there [giving possession away] and continues on running. That's rubbish from him."

"There's enough players back there to stop him but it's unstoppable. [Matthijs] De Ligt starts running too late and completely misreads the pace of the Spurs centre-back. It's amazing and devastating from van de Ven, and Spurs. He's [Johnson] smiling before it even hit the back of the net."

In response to a replay of the staggering van de Ven run, Neville added: "That from Marcus Rashford is poor to be honest. That touch there is heavy, awful, and I think he's got to do better than that, even if he dives in and gives a foul away. Then you have [Manuel] Ugarte who's come in to stop things in midfield... De Ligt who's come in to help stop things at the back."