Amorim sends CLEAR Rashford message
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has fuelled speculation that Marcus Rashford’s future lies away from Old Trafford with comments made following a 2-0 Premier League loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Boxing Day.
Rashford was not present at Molineux as the Red Devils conceded two second-half goals to slump to a loss that Amorim described as a “step backwards”.
It was the third successive match in which the England international forward was not even part of the matchday squad for the Old Trafford side, coming amid a public war of words with the former Sporting CP boss.
Amorim has previously announced that Rashford’s absence is not due to disciplinary reasons but hinted that he lacks the application in training to be part of his Manchester United team.
He was asked following the loss to Wolves if the player has shown him anything different in training.
Amorim replied: “If he’s not here, you can make your mind up.
“It’s still the same reason why he’s not here. We have to be the same professionals, the same guys, winning or losing. Losing, I have to be stronger. I will continue with my idea until the end.”
Rashford previously announced on 17 December that he is “ready for a new challenge”, which Amorim responded to coolly, indicating that the door to his squad remains open to the Man Utd academy product if he can show the proper attitude.
While that stance has not changed publicly, there have been reports that the wheels are turning behind the scenes, with Ineos giving Amorim the green light to sell the player, with the remainder of the squad also backing the Portuguese.
Amorim: Wolves a step backwards
Amorim is struggling to have an immediate impact at Old Trafford, with United slumping to a third defeat in succession against Wolves.
After the game, in which captain Bruno Fernandes was sent off, Amorim admitted: “Of course, when you lose, when we don’t win, it’s a step back.
“It was really hard with the sending off. The goal was similar against Tottenham. Then, we tried. Even with one less guy we tried to and I think we were near something but then Wolves scored the second one.
“Then, in the end, we tried everything and the transition was 2-0. For us, let’s continue.”
Next up for Man Utd is a home encounter with Newcastle on 30 December.