Erik ten Hag insisted Marcus Rashford is "scoring from everywhere" after a reporter suggested he struggles playing on the right flank.
Rashford, 25, scored his 20th club goal of the season on Wednesday to help Manchester United recover from two goals down in the 2-2 home draw against Leeds. The Englishman needs just three more goals to confirm his most prolific season for the Red Devils.
Many critics believe that Rashford's best position is on the left flank, where he can cut inside on to his stronger right foot and shoot. Yet Ten Hag disagrees with that notion - claiming the 51-cap international is capable of playing anywhere along the front three.
The awkward encounter happened during Ten Hag's post-match interview with Viaplay. The interviewer claimed Rashford "seems to struggle a little bit to get into the game" when he plays on the right flank, a theory the United boss was quick to dismiss.
Laughing, Ten Hag asked: "Well, which game was it? It was against Burnley he scored twice from the right, great goals."
Ten Hag was referring to United's 2-0 win against Burnley in the Carabao Cup in December, when Rashford actually scored just once. In fairness to Ten Hag, Rashford's strike was a brilliant effort from the right flank. Christian Eriksen scored the other goal in that tie.
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The interview then laughed and said, "My bad". Ten Hag laughed, nodded and added: "Marcus Rashford is scoring from everywhere. It doesn’t matter if it’s from the right, in the centre or over on the left. He’s scoring from everywhere and today he showed it again."
United endured a nightmare start to Wednesday's game when Wilfried Gnonto's superb strike gave Leeds the lead inside the opening minute. Raphael Varane then scored an own goal just after half-time to leave Ten Hag's side in a perilous position.
Yet Rashford's brilliant header moments later got United back into the game before Jadon Sancho came off the bench to score his first Premier League goal since the beginning of September. The Red Devils face Leeds again at Elland Road on Sunday.
United are on the hunt for a new centre-forward, with Wout Weghorst signed on loan in January following Cristiano Ronaldo's exit. There is a suggestion Rashford could fulfil that role long term and Ten Hag is open to deploying him there in the return game.
"It's difficult to analyse but I think after we make that change it's different for the opponent," said Ten Hag. "It's difficult for the opponent because the dynamic changes. The defenders are in a certain way, they are anticipating a certain attack and then all of a sudden everything is changing.
"When we moved there, not only Rashford but we bring in Sancho and we bring in [Facundo] Pellistri. And that changes the game, as we did on Saturday as well. And we benefit from that situation, I think."
