Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has questioned the decision-making of those surrounding Marcus Rashford, who has been left out of the squad for the club’s last three games.
The Portuguese coach did not include Rashford for Sunday’s 3-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth in the English Premier League amid speculation that the forward want to leave Old Trafford.
Amorim initially left him out for the 2-1 derby win at Manchester City on December 15, two days before the 27-year-old said in an interview that he was “ready for a new challenge” after having been at Old Trafford since the age of seven.
While Amorim said his team was “better with Marcus Rashford,” the former Sporting coach has now questioned the decisions from those around the player for his comments.
“It is a hard situation. I understand that these players have a lot of people around them, making choices that are not the first idea from the player,” Amorim told Sky Sports.
“I am always here to help Marcus as another player. I have to do what I have to do. They chose to do the interview as it is not just Marcus. I understand that.
“As a coach I focus on performance and the way you train. The rest, it is better for me and the club to deal with that when the time comes.
“At the moment I focus on improving Marcus and we need a talented guy like Marcus. I forget the interview now and see what I see on the pitch.”
Rashford has netted three goals since Amorim took over in November, but was substituted off in the 56th minute of their 2-1 UEFA Europa League victory at Viktoria Plzen on December 12, with supporters booing him as he left the pitch.
The England forward has struggled to rediscover the form that saw him score 30 goals in all competitions in the 2022/2023 season.
United have had mixed fortunes under Amorim, following up the huge victory at champions Manchester City with a 4-3 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup and a humiliating 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth.
