Ruben Amorim has refused to close the door on Manchester United's Marcus Rashford, despite the striker saying he is ready for a fresh start at Old Trafford.
Monday, Rashford told journalist Henry Winter he is “ready for a new challenge” amid rumors of the club's INEOS ownership holding plans to cash in on the Carrington graduate.
Rashford, 27, was left out of Ruben Amorim's Manchester derby squad at the weekend, which United won 2-1, by the head coach appears questioning his professionalism in training.
However, speaking ahead of Man Utd's Carabao Cup semi-final against Tottenham on Thursday, live on Sky SportsAmorim hailed “huge talent” Rashford still has a big role to play at Old Trafford.
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When asked about Rashford's views, Amorim said: “I think he is right. We have a new challenge here and it is difficult, it is the biggest challenge in football because we are in It's a tough situation. This is a real challenge. I hope all my players are ready for this new challenge.
“Have I spoken to Marcus Rashford? Not yet, it was yesterday, I gave them a day off.”
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Football writer Henry Winter speaks to Sky Sports News following his interview with Marcus Rashford in which the Man United striker said he was 'ready for a new challenge', and asked the England star to ' with respect' leave.
When pressed on the England international's future, Amorim said: “I just want to win and help the team to be better, so we're better with Marcus Rashford, and that's simple, we try different things to push Marcus to be at his best. that it is presented in the past.
“A club like this needs a big talent and he is a big talent so we need him to play at the highest level and that is my focus. I just want Marcus to help.”
Academy product Rashford has scored 138 goals in 426 games for his boyhood club, having burst onto the scene in February 2016.
But the 27-year-old's form has dropped dramatically over the past 18 months and Sky Sports News Rashford reported firstwho has scored seven times in 24 appearances this season, was on a collision course with INEOS management and their “clean culture” approach earlier this year, after breaching the rules of the t -former manager Erik ten Hag for the third time in January.
Amorim, Ten Hag's agent, was also not impressed with Rashford's appeal at the training ground and his general behaviour, which led to his resignation and Alejandro Garnacho being left out of the squad on Sunday.
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Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher looks back at Manchester United's derby win over Manchester City and suggests that Marcus Rashford's omission from the squad could spell the end for Old Trafford.
Despite the noise surrounding Rashford's future, Amorim insists it will not affect his team ahead of the busy Christmas period, starting against Spurs on Thursday.
“They (players) are simpler than that,” he said. “They focus on their work, I was a player and we are a bit selfish. It doesn't even affect the team.
“We have one more training but it is the same situation as the other players, if they are training well I have to make a choice. We will see at the end of the training. I expect that the every player's best every day.”
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