Amorim Criticises Rashford’s Effort, Suggests Goalkeeping Coach Over Forward

Ruben Amorim, Manchester United’s manager, has publicly questioned Marcus Rashford’s attitude, claiming he’d rather field his 63-year-old goalkeeping coach than the England forward. Rashford, who has been absent from matchday squads for six weeks, was again omitted from the team that secured a narrow 1-0 win against Fulham in the Premier League.

Amorim voiced concerns over Rashford’s training commitment, suggesting it falls short of his expectations. “It’s always the same reason — the training, the way I see a footballer should do in life. It’s every day, every detail,” Amorim said. “If things don’t change, I will not change. The same applies to every player. If you do the maximum and the right things, we can use every player.”

Amorim even quipped about the lack of pace on his bench: “You can see we miss pace on the bench, but I would put [goalkeeping coach Jorge] Vital before a player who doesn’t give the maximum every day.”

Sources close to Rashford, however, maintain that the 27-year-old has no issues with Amorim and is willing to play for the club again. However, his potential moves away from Old Trafford seem complicated. A switch to AC Milan was ruled out after the club signed Kyle Walker, as Serie A clubs are limited in signing English players this month. Similarly, a loan to Barcelona hinges on the exits of Eric Garcia or Ansu Fati, neither of whom have shown a desire to leave the Nou Camp.

Shay Given, the former Newcastle goalkeeper, praised Amorim’s honesty, saying: “The fans aren’t stupid. They see it’s not good enough from the players, and Ruben Amorim is just being honest. If you don’t train hard and dedicate your life, you won’t be in the team.”

Meanwhile, former Aston Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger commented on the potential fallout, stating: “He wants to set an example, but if he does that, they will never be friends again. Amorim is also under pressure; if he is very harsh with the players, then his teams have to improve.”

Amorim’s tenure at Manchester United has been far from smooth. The Fulham victory marked only his fourth Premier League win since taking charge in November. Reflecting on the challenges, Amorim joked about the toll the job has taken on him: “It’s not 40… I’m 50. After two months at Manchester United, it’s 50. It’s a privilege to spend my 40th birthday here.”

Despite the lacklustre performance at Craven Cottage, the late goal from Lisandro Martinez secured the win. Amorim acknowledged the team’s struggles but emphasised his long-term vision: “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.”

With just over a week left in the transfer window, Manchester United have yet to make any signings. Instead, the focus has been on outgoings. Winger Antony joined Real Betis on loan after a disappointing spell at Old Trafford, having been signed for £81.3 million in 2022.

Meanwhile, Alejandro Garnacho has been linked with a potential departure but started against Fulham. Though his performance was largely underwhelming, he contributed to the match-winning goal with a key cutback. Selling Garnacho could provide funds for new signings and help United avoid breaching financial sustainability rules.

The Red Devils have been linked with Patrick Dorgu of Lecce and Christopher Nkunku of Chelsea, but Amorim hinted at a cautious approach: “We have to be cautious. We did make mistakes in the past, and we cannot do it now.”

Amorim’s remarks underline the challenges he faces both on and off the pitch. The uncertainty surrounding Rashford’s future and United’s ability to strengthen their squad before the deadline could significantly impact the remainder of the season.