Ruben Amorim has explained his decision to exclude Marcus Rashford from Manchester United’s squad, calling on the forward to show greater commitment and involvement.
Rashford was initially omitted from the matchday squad by Amorim for the derby against Manchester City, alongside Alejandro Garnacho. While Garnacho returned for subsequent matches, Rashford remained sidelined for United’s Carabao Cup loss to Tottenham and the 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth. Tensions escalated after Rashford’s interview with journalist Henry Winter, where he expressed being “ready for a new challenge.” Amorim later condemned Rashford’s choice to address such matters publicly.
Amorim has called on Rashford to show greater “responsibility” to earn his place back in the team, emphasizing the importance of unity during the club’s challenging period. “My message is clear. Everyone at Carrington understands what I expect from Marcus and the rest of the squad, so it’s not a distraction for us. It might be for the media and others, but that’s not my concern,” the Portuguese manager stated during a press conference.
“I want Rashford to be like any other player, the best that they can be. If you have big talent, big performance, big responsibility, big engagement. Push everybody forward. In this moment some guys have a big responsibility here because they are here for a long time. This is one of the lowest moments of our club we have to face it and be strong in this moment, that’s what I want from every player in the team.” Rashford said.
🚨🗣 – Ruben Amorim on Marcus Rashford:
"They chose to do that interview because this is not just Marcus, and I understand that."
Clearly talking about how Rashford's actions are influenced by his camp. 🤔pic.twitter.com/rVbaFny1ok
— UF (@UtdFaithfuls) December 24, 2024
Amorim characterized Rashford’s absence from the squad as “a routine decision” and noted that their conversations focus on the player’s performance rather than the recent interview. The coach confirmed Rashford’s desire to return to action but stressed that the forward’s inclusion will depend solely on what benefits the team. He stated, “I’ll make changes when I feel it’s the right moment. Until then, I’ll stick to what I believe is best for the team. Marcus wants to play, but the decision is mine. I’m following my approach because deviating from it would compromise my integrity.”
For the first time since 1989, United will find themselves at the bottom of the league table on Christmas Day, having lost three of their six Premier League matches under Amorim’s management. The Red Devils will face a struggling Wolves side on Boxing Day, where Amorim will encounter fellow Portuguese manager Vitor Pereira, who marked his debut with a 3-0 victory against Leicester City.
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Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
