Ruben Amorim claimed he would have spoken his manager about being dropped instead of reacting in the media like Marcus Rashford. Manchester United’s head coach has yet to determine how to handle the forward, but he is reported to have left him out of Thursday’s Carabao Cup quarterfinal at Tottenham.
In a Tuesday interview with Henry Winter, Rashford stated he was “ready for a new challenge”. The 27-year-old, who has struggled for form for two seasons, was rested for United’s 2-1 triumph over Manchester City on Sunday.
On Wednesday, Amorim was asked what he would have done if he were Rashford as a player. The 39-year-old played for Belenenses, Braga, Benfica, and Al-Wakrah and earned 14 Portugal caps. “I would speak with the manager,” he emphasized.
“My plan is hard to explain. Amorim said Rashford’s interview made him emotional. “I need to prepare for the game and then see. Focus on the team, not individuals.”
Rashford is not understood to have traveled to London with his teammates on Wednesday afternoon before the Spurs game. However, Alejandro Garnacho, who was also left out for Sunday’s derby, was reportedly in the squad.
Amorim was asked if he would move on swiftly. He stated, “It’s a hard situation to comment [on]. If I give it a lot of emphasis, the papers will go crazy, and if I say it’s not an issue, my standards are dropping. I want to keep the focus on the game, the team, and our last game performance.”
As part of a cultural reboot to rebuild the club, Amorim may sell Rashford in January, with United’s leadership willing to listen to bids for a player earning £365,000 a week.
On Wednesday, the head coach pushed Rashford to accept the “biggest challenge” of establishing himself at his boyhood club, but he confessed he would be powerless to keep him if he leaves.
“I don’t control that, what I can control is the way I see things to take my players to the games and the training,” Amorim said, adding that he has not discussed Rashford’s long-term future with club administrators. The interview was Tuesday. Preparing the team for Tottenham is my priority. Nothing has changed—we trust Marcus.
We face a new challenge. A tough one. I think it’s the biggest football challenge because we’re in a tough circumstance and this is one of the world’s biggest clubs. I think all my teammates are ready for this new challenge.”
The team for Sunday’s derby win was leaked in advance, but Amorim won’t investigate.
“All coaches know about it now,” he said. I spoke a lot about the team, how I want us to play, the positions, etc. because I know the coaches only saw Manchester United play once.
I can’t control leaks either. My players should go to a game with a defined plan rather than try to stop the starting XI from leaking.”
