by Ruben Amorim has insisted Marcus Rashford is not close to leaving Manchester United and urged the striker to take on the “biggest challenge” of proving himself at his boyhood club.
Rashford said he was “ready for a new challenge” in an interview with journalist Henry Winter on Tuesday. This comes after the 27-year-old was substituted in United’s 2-1 win over Manchester City on Sunday and has struggled with his form over the last two seasons.
Related: Rashford is “ready for a new challenge” as Manchester United’s exit approaches
It is understood Amorim would like to sell Rashford in January as part of a cultural reset he believes is necessary to transform the club, with United’s hierarchy willing to listen to offers for a player worth £365,000 a week earned. But on Wednesday, United’s head coach insisted he wants Rashford to stay in his place. “Of course, because this type of club needs great talent and he is a great talent, so he just has to perform at his best and that is my focus. “I just want to help Marcus,” Amorim said.
“We are facing a new challenge here, it is a difficult one, for me the biggest challenge in football because we are in a difficult situation and I have already said that this is one of the biggest clubs in the world,” said Amorim. “This is a really new challenge and the biggest one. I really hope that all my players are ready for this new challenge.”
As Tuesday was a day off, Amorim has not spoken to Rashford yet. “No, not yet. “It was yesterday, I gave the boys the day off, so he is our player and ready for the next game,” said the Portuguese. “I spoke to many players individually and during training. What I want is to inherit the best of Marcus Rashford as a player, so I’m not talking about the future, just the present. I want to have the best from each and every one of them and that is the key point for me. I just want to win and help the team get better.
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“We are better with Marcus Rashford, that is quite simple and we will try different things to get Marcus to the best level he has shown in the past. And that’s all.”
Amorim also played down the impact of Rashford’s comments on the squad. “I think they are simpler than that, they focus on their job, each, all the players,” he stressed. “I was a player and we were a bit selfish, so they focused on their job of winning a place in the team. I don’t think it had an impact on the team.”
