Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has sparked controversy with his remarks about outcast striker Marcus Rashford, claiming that the club’s 63-year-old goalkeeper coach, Jorge Vital, would have a better chance of making the team than the England international. Rashford has not played for United since December 12 and was again omitted from the squad for their recent 1-0 victory over Fulham on Sunday.
Amorim, while discussing his team’s performance against Fulham, suggested that Vital could have been a more effective option off the bench, even as United struggled to make an impact on the game. “Today on the bench we missed a bit of pace to change the game but I prefer it like this, I will put Vital before I put a player who doesn’t give the maximum every day,” he stated.
The manager emphasized that Rashford’s exclusion is due to his perceived lack of effort in training. “It’s always the same reason (why Rashford is not playing). The reason is the training, what I think a footballer should do in training, in life, and every day. If things don’t change, I will not change,” Amorim added. He maintained that any player who demonstrates maximum effort in both training and daily life would earn their place on the team.
Despite the strained relationship between the club and the player, Rashford showed support for his teammates on social media, congratulating them for the win over Fulham. “Congratulations on the win lads,” he posted on Instagram.
The match saw United secure a narrow victory thanks to a 78th-minute long-range deflected effort from defender Lisandro Martinez, which looped over Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno, securing all three points for the Red Devils.
