Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has claimed he agrees with Marcus Rashford over needing a new challenge
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has claimed Marcus Rashford is right to say he wants a "new challenge" - but said the forward had "the biggest one" ahead of him at Old Trafford.
Rashford dropped bombshell news he wants to leave the club on Tuesday after Amorim dropped him from his squad that beat Manchester City 2-1 on Sunday.
The England star has struggled for goals this season and said he was ready for a fresh chapter during an interview with journalist Henry Winter.
However, Amorim said he wanted the 27-year-old to stay put as the Portuguese coach encouraged him to embrace the "challenge" of helping United return to their former glory.
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Amorim said: "We have here a new challenge, it’s a tough one, for me it’s the biggest challenge in football because we are in a difficult situation and I already said this is one of the biggest clubs in the world. This is a really new challenge and the biggest one. I really hope all my players are ready for this new challenge."
Amorim said he was yet to speak to Rashford about his future but called him a "big talent", claiming United were better with him in the team.
"I’ve not spoken to him yet. Yesterday was a day off for the lads. He’s our player and ready for the next game. I spoke with a lot of players individually during training sessions. What I want is to take the bestMarcus Rashfordso I don’t talk about the future, I just talk about the present.
Marcus Rashford's future is up in the air ( Image: Getty Images)
"I want the best of each one of them and that is the key point for me, I just want to win and to help the team be better. We are better with Marcus Rashford, that is simple and we will try different things to push Marcus to the best levels he showed in the past. And that’s all.
"Of course [I want him to stay], because this kind of club needs big talent and he’s a big talent, so he just needs to perform at the highest level and that is my focus. I just want to help Marcus. The others focus on their job.
"Of course I expect the best of each players every day. This is in the future [Rashford's availability], my focus is to have all the players in the best that they can be to prepare for each game. There is no if at this kind of club, it is just Tottenham and let’s focus on this game."
"For me, personally, I think I'm ready for a new challenge and the next steps. When I leave it's going to be ‘no hard feelings’. You’re not going to have any negative comments from me about Manchester United. That’s me as a person. If I know that a situation is already bad I'm not going to make it worse,"
"I've seen how other players have left in the past and I don't want to be that person. When I leave I'll make a statement and it will be from me. I’m halfway through my career. I don’t expect my peak to be now. I've had nine years so far in the Premier League and that’s taught me a lot, that’s helped me grow as a player and as a person.
"So I don't have any regrets from the last nine years. I won’t have any regrets going forward because I take things day by day and sometimes bad things happen, sometimes good things happen. I just try and keep a fine balance."
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