Marcus Rashford faces a challenge to save his Manchester United future, with the club prepared to cut ties with the striker if he does not raise his standards on and off the pitch.
Sky Sports News first reported that the 27-year-old man on a collision course with INEOS leadership and their “clean culture” approach in January after his third breach of former manager Erik ten Hag's rules.
Ruben Amorim, the new man at the helm, has also been unhappy with Rashford's appeal at the training ground and his general behaviour, which led to him being left out of the squad for Sunday's Manchester derby.
Thursday December 19 7:00 p.m
Start at 8:00 p.m
While Alejandro Garnacho had to watch United's victory at the Etihad from home for the same reason, he was not a serial offender, nor was he regarded as a senior member of the team he should have been. example setting.
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Although Amorim has made it clear that a drop in effort is unacceptable, the feeling is that the 20-year-old has not run out of opportunities like Rashford, for whom the club have been open to offers since January.
The issue is then, in the summer, and as it is now, the attacker has no attackers because of his behavior outside the park, the form and the mega salary.
With no market for Rashford, Amorim has been trying different ways to get out of it. “So long, for example with Rash, you try something, it doesn't work,” he said. “Do we continue to do the same thing? Or something different?”
Thursday December 19 7:00 p.m
Start at 8:00 p.m
Being left out of the squad against Manchester City so far has had the desired effect of raising training standards and the player's outlook.
Rashford posted a picture of United celebrating after Amad's stunning winner with the caption, “Yessssssssss! Love it lads” on social media. It was seen as a nod to Amorim's belief that everything, including “communicating with team-mates” will be considered when selecting a match-day squad.
Rashford was dropped for Sunday's Manchester derby win
United will be hoping that Rashford's positive reaction is not short-lived like before. When Ten Hag dropped him from the starting line-up against Wolves for being late in a team meeting in December 2022, he came off the bench to celebrate the winner and said: “If I was a coach ' me, I would have done the same thing. .
“Because if you don't have standards in the training ground, how do you expect to go out on the pitch and win consistently? It's impossible.”
Rashford also responded well to his punishment after being sick for training when he was found partying in Belfast for two nights in January. Ten Hag dropped it against Newport County and then put it back against Wolves, where he was on the scoresheet again.
The uptick never lasted long but United are willing the action of Amorim – removing him from the game that means the most as a local boy – to be the jolt that Rashford needs. His United future depends on him.
Carragher: Rashford exit 'inevitable'
Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher:
“Most managers who come in, they want to send a message to the team about the standards of the football club. In some ways it feels like a bigger decision than it really is.
“I mean, is Marcus Rashford in the best XI? How good is it? We are not talking about a world famous superstar here. I really think we talk too much about Marcus Rashford if I'm completely honest.
“He's a good player, he's not a great player, he's been a very good player for Manchester United. It's time to leave the club, but whether anyone will accept the lad's salary and things like that. , who knows.
“I just think a parting of the ways is inevitable at some point, and I think for Manchester United and Rashford, the sooner it comes, the better.”
