Amorim Affirms Manchester United’s Strength with Rashford

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has affirmed that the team performs “better” with Marcus Rashford, following the forward’s recent comments indicating a potential departure from Old Trafford. The 27-year-old England international declared on Tuesday his readiness “for a new challenge and the next steps” in his professional journey. This statement came just two days after Rashford was excluded from United’s squad for their derby victory over Manchester City at Etihad Stadium. Rashford’s most recent Premier League start occurred on 1 December, during a 4-0 triumph over Everton, where he netted two goals. Amorim conveyed the club’s desire for the striker, a product of United’s youth system, to remain, stating: “I don’t talk about the future, we talk about the present. “This kind of club needs big talent and he’s a big talent, so he just needs to perform at the highest level and that is my focus. I just want to help Marcus.”” When questioned about Rashford’s expressed wish for “a new challenge,” Amorim responded: “I think it’s right. We have here a new challenge, it’s a tough one.” He continued, “For me it’s the biggest challenge in football because we are in a difficult situation and I already said this is one of the biggest clubs in the world. “I really hope all my players are ready for this new challenge.”” Amorim further stated that the club intends to “try different things” to assist Rashford in regaining the “best levels he has shown in the past.” He affirmed, “Nothing has changed – we believe in Marcus,” and elaborated, “It’s hard to explain to you guys what I am going to do. I’m a little bit emotional so in the moment I will decide what to do.” He also noted, “It’s a hard situation to comment [on]. If I give a lot of importance it will have big headlines in the papers and if I say it’s not a problem then my standards are getting low.”” When asked whether he, as a player, would opt for an interview or a private discussion in such a scenario, Amorim replied: “If this was me probably I would speak with the manager.” Manchester United is scheduled to play Tottenham in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Thursday at 20:00 GMT. Amorim declined to confirm the participation of either Rashford or winger Alejandro Garnacho, who was also omitted from the squad against Manchester City, in the upcoming match against Spurs. Nevertheless, Rashford was not observed traveling with the team to London, while Garnacho was. In response to a question regarding Garnacho’s reaction to being excluded, Amorim stated: “Really good – he trained really well. He seems a little bit upset with me and that’s perfect. “I was really, really happy because I would do the same. He’s ready for this game.”” Midfielder Mason Mount will be unavailable, having exited Sunday’s victory in the 14th minute. Amorim reported that Mount’s injury is still under assessment and that the player was “really sad” in the dressing room, adding that “we need to help him.” Since Ruben Amorim’s appointment, Marcus Rashford has been in the starting lineup for three of Manchester United’s seven games. Rashford has accumulated 138 goals across 426 appearances for United since his debut in 2016. His most productive season was 2022-23, during which he scored 30 goals in 56 matches across all competitions, leading to a new five-year contract. The goals Rashford scored in that particular campaign represent over one-fifth (21.7%) of his overall goal count throughout his nine and a half seasons at Old Trafford. Nevertheless, he has experienced a dip in form over the last 18 months, registering 15 goals in his previous 67 appearances. The forward’s shot conversion rate stood at 11.9% in the 2021-22 season, a period when he scored five goals in 32 matches. This rate rose to 18% in the subsequent season when he scored 30 goals, but then declined to merely 9.4% last term – marking the lowest rate of his career over a full season – as he scored eight times in 43 matches. From the 2019-20 season onwards, United has achieved victory in 52.7% of their matches across all competitions when Rashford has been in the starting line-up (107 wins out of 203 games), in contrast to a 54.2% win rate when he has not started (58 wins out of 107 games). Ruben Amorim appears to have adhered to any potential guidance from Manchester United aimed at preventing further disruption in an already sensitive situation. While Amorim is recognized for his direct approach, this particular circumstance suggests that actions will be more significant than verbal statements. Amorim has expressed his desire for “big talent” Rashford to remain, yet also emphasized that players must meet his required standards. He indicated that both Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho’s selection will be determined by their performances in training. Consequently, it is reasonable to infer that if neither player achieves the necessary standard, they will not journey to London for the EFL Cup match against Tottenham, irrespective of whether Rashford has recovered from the illness that kept him from training on Monday. Following the Tottenham fixture, United’s Premier League schedule includes matches against Bournemouth, Wolves, and Newcastle. Rashford’s role within Amorim’s strategies will soon become apparent. Should he not meet the standards set by his new manager, the 27-year-old will not be included in the team.