Ruben Amorim’s Bold Stance on Marcus Rashford: A Deep Dive into Manchester United’s Internal Struggles
In the world of football, where every decision is scrutinized and every comment dissected, Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has made headlines with his recent remarks about Marcus Rashford. The Portuguese manager, who took the reins at United from Sporting CP in November, has not shied away from making bold decisions and statements. His latest comments about Rashford have certainly stirred the pot, and for good reason.
During a press conference, Amorim was asked by ESPN’s Mark Ogden about Rashford’s current standing within the team. His response was nothing short of a bombshell. Amorim stated that he would rather play his 63-year-old goalkeeper coach, Jorge Vital, than Rashford unless the forward starts to “give the maximum every day in training and in life.” This statement has sent shockwaves through the football community, raising questions about Rashford’s future at Old Trafford.
Rashford, an England international, has been conspicuously absent from the team for the 11th successive game. This absence was noted during United’s 1-0 Premier League win at Fulham on Sunday. The 27-year-old forward had previously expressed his desire to seek a “new challenge” away from Old Trafford after being dropped for United’s 2-1 win against Manchester City at the Etihad on December 15. However, despite his intentions, Rashford has yet to secure a move to a new club during the January transfer window.
Amorim’s decision to exclude Rashford from the squad comes despite the fact that strikers Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee have managed to score just one goal between them since the beginning of December. Yet, Amorim remains firm in his stance, emphasizing that Rashford will not be restored to the team unless he changes his attitude.
“It’s the same, it’s always the same reason,” Amorim explained when questioned about his continued decision to overlook Rashford. “The reason is the training, the way I see what footballers should do in training, in life, it’s every day, every detail.”
Amorim’s comments highlight a broader issue within the team, one that goes beyond just Rashford. He stated, “If things don’t change, I will not change. It’s the same situation for every player. If you do the maximum, if you do the right things, we can use every player. And you can see it today on the bench, we miss a little bit of pace to go and change the game, move some pieces.”
He further added, “But I prefer it like that. I will put Vital on before I put a player on that don’t give the maximum every day. So I will not change in that department.”
Amorim, who is set to celebrate his 40th birthday, humorously remarked that his time at Manchester United has aged him significantly. “It’s not 40 … I’m 50!” he joked. “After two months at Manchester United, it’s 50. It’s a privilege to spend my 40th birthday here. That feeling of winning and three points is really important for us. You cannot see a great improvement in the team and that is a fact, but to win helps us to improve.”
Despite the challenges, Amorim remains optimistic about the future. “We’ve had some lack of luck in some games. Today, was not the best match but we managed to win. The important thing is I have a clear idea of what I want to do. Sometimes I’m frustrated. We want to play a different style and we are going to play a different style in the future.”
- Rashford’s absence: 11 successive games
- Amorim’s age joke: “It’s not 40 … I’m 50!”
- Strikers’ performance: 1 goal since December
As the January transfer window progresses, all eyes will be on Rashford and Manchester United. Will Rashford find a new club, or will he rise to Amorim’s challenge and reclaim his place in the team? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: Amorim’s leadership style is anything but conventional, and his tenure at United promises to be an intriguing one.
Originally Written by: Mark Ogden
