Ruben Amorim has defended his controversial decision to repeatedly overlook Marcus Rashford, asserting that he prioritizes players who gas the Manchester United boss insists on maximum effort in training for team selection. boss even joked he would choose the club’s goalkeeper coach, Jorge Vital, over a player failing to meet his standards.
Rashford, 27, was once again absent from United’s Premier League victory over Fulham, a match won through Lisandro Martinez’s deflected strike.
Despite the win, United’s performance lacked conviction, and questions regarding Rashford’s exclusion persist.
The England international, who has been with the club since the age of seven, last played on December 12. Since then, Amorim has dropped Rashford and fellow forward Alejandro Garnacho, citing dissatisfaction with their training efforts.
Garnacho has since returned to the team, but Rashford remains sidelined amid ongoing transfer rumors.
Speaking about Rashford’s absence after the Fulham game, Amorim stated, “It’s always the same reason—training. I believe in maximum effort every day. If things don’t change, my decisions won’t change.
Every player must meet these standards. We missed some pace today to change the game, but I prefer that over using someone not giving their all.”
Rashford, who enjoyed a stellar campaign under Erik ten Hag, has seen his form dip in recent seasons.
Speculation about his future intensified when the forward admitted he was “ready for a new challenge.” Several clubs have shown interest, but Rashford’s high wages remain a stumbling block.
Despite his exclusion, Rashford took to Instagram to congratulate his teammates on their victory over Fulham.
Amorim, meanwhile, admitted his team is still far from his expectations. Following their recent defeat to Brighton, Amorim called his squad “maybe the worst” in Manchester United’s 147-year history.
However, back-to-back wins against Rangers in the Europa League and Fulham in the Premier League have provided a morale boost. “Winning is vital for us,” Amorim said. “While the team has not improved much, victories help us progress.
I have a clear vision for the future, and though it’s frustrating at times, we’ll implement a different style of play soon.”
Manchester United currently sits 12th in the Premier League, with Amorim determined to rebuild and raise standards. Whether Rashford will be part of that vision remains uncertain.