Ruben Amorim has questioned the “choices” of people surrounding Marcus Rashford while offering his support to the Manchester United striker.
Rashford sat out a third successive game on Sunday as United crashed to a 3-0 Premier League home defeat to Bournemouth, the 27-year-old having also been omitted for a 2-1 derby win at Manchester City and Thursday’s 4-3 Carabao Cup quarter-final loss at Tottenham.
Two days before that Spurs defeat, Rashford had said in an eye-catching interview that he was “ready for a new challenge and the next steps” of a career which began in the United academy.
“It is a hard situation but I understand that this kind of player have a lot of people around them, and making some choices that sometimes is not the first idea from the player,” United boss Amorim told Sky Sports on Monday.
“So I understand I can separate things. I’m always here for helping Marcus as another player and they have to do what they have to do.
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“I say they chose to do that interview because it’s not just Marcus. I understand that so for me as a coach I’m just focused on the performance, the way he trains.
“The rest, I think, is better for me and the club to deal with that when the times comes. At the moment I’m just focused on improving Marcus.
“We need a lot in this moment, (from a) talented guy like Marcus, and I forget for now the interview. I just see what I see on the pitch.”
English Premier League at Christmas.
United’s defeat to the Cherries – their second successive defeat at Old Trafford – left them 13th in theAmorim’s side return to action at Wolves on Boxing Day before hosting Newcastle United next Monday.