After his sensational rant following Manchester United’s win at Craven Cottage on Sunday, Rúben Amorim gave more detail surrounding Marcus Rashford’s situation at the club ahead of the Red Devils’ UEFA Europa League clash with FCSB on Thursday.
United could qualify in the top eight of the league phase with just a draw against the Romanian side, but three points would make certain of their automatic progression to the round-of-16. Amorim suggested it won’t be an easy game though, telling reporters in his pre-match press conference that “they’re a really smart team and we have to perform well to win.”
“I know they’re a strong team and can score a lot of goals from set-pieces. They can win matches without much possession. […] Without so much possession, they can score from set-pieces, with one striker who is really fast in transition. [David] Miculescu, [on his] left foot, is really strong. The two centre-backs are very strong on duels and the two full-backs go up and down until the 90 minutes. We’ll be prepared for that, I’m sure my team are prepared to fight for the win.”
But while Amorim hinted that he’d rotate his squad on Thursday, Marcus Rashford remains a high-profile absentee from the squad and the United boss explained why.
“The situation is the same as with every player. Last time, I talked about him [after] the last game, my sentence was that I will not put any player in who won’t give the maximum. I didn’t say I would not put Marcus Rashford in. It’s the same situation. When I feel it’s the right moment, I will put any player in to play again. We are a better team with Marcus Rashford. That is clear. he is a big talent but, until the right moment, I will not change my mind. That is all. Always the same answer,” he insisted.
The 40-year-old added: “It’s the same thing for everybody. Some players don’t play – Rashford is not selected and that is my choice. Imagine a profile of the players now, imagine a talent like Marcus Rashford. The team should be so much better with Marcus Rashford but he has to change. If he changes, we are more than welcome to put a talent like Marcus Rashford and we need it.”
“In this moment, I think it’s really clear, I have to set some standards, that is all. You try to make it something personal but it is nothing against Marcus. I just have to make the same rules for everybody. For me, it’s so simple and always the same.”