Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has insisted Marcus Rashford’s continued exile from the first-team squad will not affect the club’s results.
Another United game brought another Rashford omission and, as Wolverhampton Wanderers would no doubt gleefully point out, another defeat. The Red Devils were well beaten in a 2-0 defeat at Molineux on Christmas Day as Bruno Fernandes was dismissed before goals from Matheus Cunha and Hwang Hee-chan.
Rashford he was out for the fourth game in a row. Shortly after being dropped for the Manchester derby earlier this month, the England international revealed his desire for a “new challengeAmorim have not reinstated the striker since then, only vaguely explaining his continued absence as a result of his behind-the-scenes behavior in training.
United grabbed a last-minute win against Rashford-less City but have since been beaten by Tottenham Hotspur, Bournemouth and most recently Wolves.
With his side languishing in 14th place with almost half of the campaign gone, Amorim refused to be swayed by results when it comes to Rashford’s inclusion. If anything, he doubled down on his decision.
“It’s always the same reason why it will be,” declared the Portuguese boss defiantly. “We have to be the same professionals, the same guys, win or lose. Losing, I have to be stronger. I will continue with my idea until the end.”
When asked if Rashford had done anything in training to change Amorim’s mind, the united the boss replied bluntly, “If it’s not here, you can make up your own mind.”
Suspension rather than selection will rob Amorim of his captain Fernandes for United’s next meeting. After picking up his third red card of the season for two unnecessary yellow cards at Molineux, the skipper will pull out of a Premier League visit of Newcastle United on Monday.
Unless he does something dramatic over the next four days, Rashford will likely join Fernandes on the sidelines. As Amorim told the BBC match of the day: “I just do what I think is best for the team.”
