Ten Hag Hopes Rashford and Man Utd ‘Find Each Other’ in Contract Talks

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford shows dejection at full time during the English Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester United, in London, Britain, 07 May 2023. (EPA)
Manchester United's Marcus Rashford shows dejection at full time during the English Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester United, in London, Britain, 07 May 2023. (EPA)
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Ten Hag Hopes Rashford and Man Utd ‘Find Each Other’ in Contract Talks

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford shows dejection at full time during the English Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester United, in London, Britain, 07 May 2023. (EPA)
Manchester United's Marcus Rashford shows dejection at full time during the English Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester United, in London, Britain, 07 May 2023. (EPA)

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag said he is confident that Marcus Rashford will agree a new contract with the Premier League club even as the English forward prepares to enter the final year of his deal with the Old Trafford outfit.

Rashford has enjoyed the best season of his career with 29 goals in all competitions for United, including 16 in the Premier League.

However, the 25-year-old United academy graduate has yet to put pen to paper on a new deal and although Ten Hag said he knew why talks have dragged on, the Dutchman refused to elaborate.

"Yes, I know (why), but I don't talk about the process. Let the process go. Once again, this is not important at the moment for me or Rashy," Ten Hag told reporters ahead of Saturday's league match at Bournemouth.

"For him, it is to get more goals this season. He is playing a wonderful season and the team is playing a wonderful season. We have to get into the Champions League and focus on that.

"Marcus wants to stay and we want him to stay, so I think we will find each other."

United are fourth in the table with 66 points and have a game in hand over Liverpool, who are a point behind in the top-four race for Champions League qualification.

Ten Hag's side are also in the FA Cup final where they will look to deny their rivals Manchester City a shot at the treble achieved only once before in England -- by the 1998-99 United team -- but he is not looking that far ahead yet.

"When we have three games and it's gone, yes, I will enjoy it. Before that, it is not important at all," he said.

"I think we have to keep doing what we have all season, improve every day and improve every game ... Focusing on the next game is the most important."



Sinner and Alcaraz Breeze through Shanghai Masters Openers

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain reacts during his Men's Singles match against Juncheng Shang of China at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai, China, 05 October 2024. (EPA)
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain reacts during his Men's Singles match against Juncheng Shang of China at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai, China, 05 October 2024. (EPA)
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Sinner and Alcaraz Breeze through Shanghai Masters Openers

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain reacts during his Men's Singles match against Juncheng Shang of China at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai, China, 05 October 2024. (EPA)
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain reacts during his Men's Singles match against Juncheng Shang of China at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai, China, 05 October 2024. (EPA)

Carlos Alcaraz and top-ranked Jannik Sinner showed no signs of fatigue from their China Open final earlier this week to advance with comfortable straight-set victories in their opening matches of the Shanghai Masters on Saturday.

The second-ranked Alcaraz, who beat the Italian in Beijing on Wednesday for his fourth title of the year, recorded his 10th consecutive win with a 6-2, 6-2 result against 19-year-old Shang Juncheng of China.

The 21-year-old Spaniard won the first nine points of the match and four of seven break points as he rushed into a third-round meeting with another Chinese player, Wu Yibing.

“I’m not used to playing against players younger than me,” Alcaraz said. “He has been playing good tennis lately, lifting his first ATP (title in Chengdu), so I’m pretty sure he’s going to climb the rankings. I’m just happy to to be able to win these kinds of matches.”

Sinner, who is dealing with an ongoing doping case, had a comfortable 6-1, 6-4 outing against Taro Daniel of Japan for his 250th career win.

The Italian, who won the US Open last month for his second major of the year, fired 12 aces and 38 winners.

“I felt quite comfortable today,” said the 23-year-old Sinner, who next plays Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina. “I feel in good shape also physically, which is very important for me. Of course I will try to improve for tomorrow’s performance, but today I was serving really, really well, especially in important moments, and was moving well.”

No. 65-ranked Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic broke sixth-ranked Andrey Rublev seven times on his way to an upset 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-3 victory.

Yosuke Watanuki also had a surprise win, beating No. 35-ranked Brendan Nakashima 7-6 (4), 6-3. The Japanese qualifier plays either seventh-ranked Taylor Fritz of the US or French qualifier Terence Atmane next.

Also, 24th-ranked Alexei Popyrin of Australia beat Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia 6-3, 6-2.

Later Saturday, third-ranked Alexander Zverev began his campaign against Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci, while fourth-ranked Novak Djokovic faced Alex Michelsen of the United States.