Amorim right to humiliate Rashford at Man Utd in public dressing down says pundit

Ruben Amorim has been encouraged to continue his public criticism of Marcus Rashford as the Manchester United forward remains frozen out of the squad.

Rashford’s exclusion follows his decision to seek a move away from Old Trafford, coupled with what Amorim perceives as a lack of effort and professionalism in training.

The United manager made headlines after Sunday’s narrow 1-0 victory over Fulham, where he took a swipe at Rashford’s attitude.

He stated he would rather select his 63-year-old goalkeeping coach, Jorge Vital, than a player who doesn’t give maximum effort.

“If things don’t change, I will not change,” Amorim said bluntly. “It’s the same situation for every player. If you do the maximum and the right things, we can use every player.

"You can see on the bench we’re missing a bit of pace, but I’d still put [goalkeeping coach Jorge] Vital there before a player who doesn’t give their maximum every day.”

Amorim is reportedly eager to offload Rashford before the transfer window closes next week, seeking to reinvest in players who align with his standards and vision for the team.

Former Manchester United winger Lee Sharpe, who experienced Sir Alex Ferguson’s no-nonsense management style, has praised Amorim for his forthright handling of the situation.

Speaking to Texas Poker, Sharpe said: “I’m fully on board with Ruben Amorim’s approach. Past managers have been too cautious and have pandered to players even after poor performances.

"Amorim, however, has made it clear that he expects full commitment in training.

“You can’t put in a 6/10 effort during the week and expect to deliver a 10/10 performance on matchday.

"If Rashford or anyone else isn’t performing in training, then they don’t deserve to play. Amorim is absolutely within his rights to speak out about this to the media.”

Sharpe also found humour in Amorim’s jab, adding: “I actually think it was quite funny when he said he’d rather have Jorge Vital on the bench than Rashford if he isn’t working hard enough!

"That’s how standards are set and upheld.”

Amorim’s approach highlights a broader cultural shift at Manchester United under his tenure.

By publicly calling out a star player, he is signaling that no individual is bigger than the team and that consistent effort and dedication are non-negotiable.

With the transfer deadline fast approaching, Rashford’s future remains uncertain, but Amorim’s message is clear: performance and professionalism are the only paths back into contention.