Ruben Amorim has admitted Manchester United are suffering “perhaps one of their lowest moments” and has urged everyone – including exile Marcus Rashford – to be “strong in the moment”.
United were hammered 3-0 by Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Sunday, leaving them 13th in the Premier League table, and Amorim’s side head into a second-day trip to Wolves having lost three of their last four games.
Meanwhile, former United talisman Rashford has been left out of the last three matchday squads and gave a bombshell interview last week to announce he is looking for a “new challenge”.
Asked if the Rashford saga risks becoming a distraction, Amorim said: “No, I don’t think so. Not for me, not for the other players.
“Because everybody is there every day during practice. They understand. That’s the key point. For the media and for other people, I can’t control that.
“But I’m really focused and they know I’m so clear in my message. Everyone at Carrington knows what I’m talking about and what I want from Marcus and everyone else. It’s not a distraction for us, maybe it is for the media but that is not my concern.”
Amorim has refused to close the door on Marcus Rashford at Manchester United
Asked what he wants to see from Rashford, Amorim said: “Like any other player, the best they can be.
“If you’ve got great talent, great performance, great responsibility, push everybody forward in this moment. Some guys have a big responsibility here because they’ve been here a long time.
“This is maybe one of the lowest moments in our club so we have to face it and be strong in this moment. That’s what I want from every player in the team.”
Amorim: I know what I’m doing
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Amorim says his full focus is on winning football games and less on Christmas
Rashford was initially dropped from United’s matchday squad ahead of the Manchester derby win on December 15 and Amorim has confirmed the forward wants to play for the team, but the Portuguese manager is standing by his call.
“Yes, that’s my decision,” Amorim said. “He wants to play, he’s trying, but it’s my decision, only my decision.
“I talked to a lot of players, individually and during training. I do this my way and it’s the only way I know. If I don’t I lose myself and I don’t want to lose myself. I know what I’m doing .”
Rashford was an ever-present figure under former manager Erik ten Hag and Amorim claims he cannot blame the Dutchman’s reign for his side’s current Premier League struggles.
United’s woes were summed up by a leak in the press conference room ceiling during Amorim’s post-Bournemouth briefing – with the Portuguese manager even using the comical moment to claim he can turn the club’s fortunes around.
“It’s a difficult question to answer, and we need to know: don’t let this become normal,” he said.
“I understand it’s a tough moment and it’s on me. Since the first day I arrived, it’s on me because I’m responsible for the team.
“We can’t think about it, we have to think about improving, understanding the context and not focusing on what happened in the past. The present is this, what we have to do in the future is (not let this) happen again.
“If I knew that, I would solve all the club’s problems, including this one (pointing to the leak in the press conference room ceiling).
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After the disappointing 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth, Amorim’s press conference was interrupted… by a leak at Old Trafford
“I know what to do, it’s so clear to me, that’s why I feel like I’m so – I won’t say relaxed because I’m really frustrated – but I know what to do.
“But we have to solve the problems step by step, find answers to everything but it is a very difficult moment, we understand the fans and we will fight it.”
Amorim’s passionate message to Man Utd fans
Amorim also spoke of the “anxiety” of Manchester United fans around Old Trafford during the defeat to Bournemouth – but says he can’t blame the fans for “doing everything right” from the stands.
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Manchester United’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth
The 39-year-old also admitted that he understands the frustration and disappointment shown by the players.
“I can’t say better things about the fans,” he said. “What I’m trying to say to the fans is: we understand. I understand as a coach. I understand the moment, the frustration and the disappointment. I get it.
“We will improve, it will take time. I said the same thing after we beat Everton and people were talking about the top four. So I know it will be really tough but it is important for us in this side to say to the supporters we understand, I understand.
“And they are incredible, the support we have. We have a season that we haven’t seen in (many) years and we know that. The only thing is to face it, prepare for the next game that we won – if you can say that – and then go again and try to win a match.
“It’s just from us. They need our help, not the other way around. They’re doing everything right.”
