Marcus Rashford faces a challenge to save his future at Manchester United, with the club willing to cut ties with the forward if he does not raise his standards on and off the pitch.
Sky Sports News first reported the 27-year-old was on a collision course with INEOS management and their “clean culture” attitude 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 unimpressed with Rashford’s application on the training ground and his general demeanor, which led to him being left out of the squad for Sunday’s Manchester derby.
Thursday 19 December at 19.00
Kick-off 20:00
While Alejandro Garnacho also had to watch United’s win at the Etihad away from home for the same reason, he has not been a serial offender, nor has he been considered a senior member of the team who should set an example.
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While Amorim has made it clear that no drop in effort will be tolerated, the feeling is that the 20-year-old has not run out of chances like Rashford, who the club have been open to offers for since January.
The problem then, in the summer, and as it stands now, is that the striker has no suitors due to his off the pitch behaviour, form and mega salary.
In the absence of a market for Rashford, Amorim has tried different methods to get him out. “As long as, for example with Rash, you try one thing, it doesn’t work,” he said. “Let’s keep doing the same thing? Or something else?”
Thursday 19 December at 19.00
Kick-off 20:00
Being left out of the squad against Manchester City has so far had the desired effect of raising the player’s training standards and attitude.
Rashford posted a photograph of United’s celebrations after Amad’s sensational winner with the caption “Yesssssssss! Love it boys” on social media. It was seen as a nod to Amorim’s comment that everything, including “commitment with team-mates” will be considered when choosing a matchday squad.
Rashford was dropped for Sunday’s Manchester derby win
United will hope that Rashford’s positive response is not short-lived as it has been in the past. When Ten Hag left him out of the starting line-up against Wolves for being late to a team meeting in December 2022, he came off the bench to score the winner and said: “If I was the manager, I would have done the same. .
“Because if you don’t have standards on the practice field, how do you expect to go out on the field and win consistently? It’s impossible.”
Rashford also responded well to his suspension after calling in sick for training when it was discovered he had been partying in Belfast for two nights in January. Ten Hag dropped him against Newport County and then reinstated him against Wolves, where he got on the scoresheet again.
The rise has never lasted long but United are willing Amorim’s actions – removing him from the game that matters most as a local boy – to be the jolt Rashford needs. His United future depends on it.
Carragher: Rashford leaving ‘inevitable’
Sky Sports Jamie Carragher:
“Most managers who come in want to send a message to the squad about the standards of the football club. In some ways it feels like a bigger decision than it actually is.
“I mean, is Marcus Rashford in the best XI? How good is he? We’re not talking about a world-famous superstar here. I actually think we talk about Marcus Rashford too much, to be completely honest.
“He’s a good player, he’s not a good player, he’s been a really good player for Manchester United. It’s time for him to leave the club, but if there’s going to be somebody who’s going to take the wages the lad has and stuff like that. , who knows.
“I just think it’s inevitable to go our separate ways at some stage, and I think for Manchester United and Rashford, the sooner it comes, the better.”
