Ruben Amorim has questioned the “choices” of people surrounding Marcus Rashford while offering his support to the Manchester United striker.
Rashford sat out a third successive game on Sunday as United crashed to a 3-0 Premier League home defeat to Bournemouth, the 27-year-old having also been omitted for a 2-1 Derby win at Manchester City and Thursday’s 4-3 Carabao Cup quarter-final loss at Tottenham.
Two days before that Spurs defeat, Rashford had said in an eye-catching interview that he was “ready for a new challenge and the next steps” of a career which began in the United academy.
“It is a hard situation but I understand that this kind of player have a lot of people around them, and making some choices that sometimes is not the first idea from the player,” United boss Amorim told Sky Sports on Monday.
“So I understand I can separate things. I’m always here for helping Marcus as another player and they have to do what they have to do.
“I say they chose to do that interview because it’s not just Marcus. I understand that so for me as a coach I’m just focused on the performance, the way he trains.
“The rest, I think, is better for me and the club to deal with that when the times comes.
“At the moment I’m just focused on improving Marcus.
“We need a lot in this moment, (from a) talented guy like Marcus, and I forget for now the interview. I just see what I see on the pitch.”
United’s defeat to the Cherries – their second successive defeat at Old Trafford – left them 13th in the Premier League at Christmas.
Amorim’s side return to action at Wolves on Boxing Day before hosting Newcastle next Monday.
