Marcus Rashford has said he is ready for a new challenge away from Manchester United and new boss Ruben Amorim has been told to keep a close eye on him ahead of a crunch set of fixtures
12:17, 18 Dec 2024
Marcus Rashford of Manchester United applauds their support
Marcus Rashford is set for the Old Trafford exit door(Image: Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Manchester United icon Dwight Yorke has revealed his frustration at Marcus Rashford’s decline and says the striker could make Ruben Amorim's dressing room a 'toxic' environment.
Rashford has said he is "ready for a new challenge and the next steps" after being axed from United's Manchester derby squad by boss Amorim and now seems certain to leave Old Trafford in the coming months.
And Amorim has been warned that unless Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, who was also dropped for the derby clash, are working 100 per cent towards the first team's goals, it could have a negative impact on the rest of the squad.
United face Tottenham in a Carabao Cup quarter-final tomorrow before hosting Bournemouth in their last Premier League clash before Christmas.
Games against Wolves and Newcastle end the 2024 matches for Amorim's side, before 2025 begins with a bang as the Red Devils face Liverpool in the league before an FA Cup Third Round tie against Arsenal.
Marcus Rashford scores against Everton earlier this month
Marcus Rashford scored twice against Everton earlier this month but hasn't netted in his last three games(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
And Yorke, wants to make sure Rashford and Garnacho are still giving their all for the cause. He told Sports Lens: "Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho are really talented boys, I have to say that. There must be a reason why the manager is leaving out arguably the two most talented players in the team, for whatever reason.
"You listen to his press conference. He said he watches everything, the way they walk, the way they dress, the way they do this, and he doesn't like it, the way they train, he doesn't like what he’s seen. That's why he's left them out
"That casts a doubt on both of their long-term United futures. That's a clear message, a warning to both of them. It’s a brave move.
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"He's won the game, so it looks like he's made the right call. Had he not won the game, some people would agree and some people would disagree with the decision to drop the players. That's how it works. For now, most would say that he's made the right call.
"Is it the right thing for the football club to drop Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho? We don't know. Only time will tell. As a manager, you've got to make tough decisions, and he has decided to go down that road."
Whether both players will also head down the road remains to be seen, but Yorke is sure that because of their standing within the club with their team-mates, the pair could make life more difficult for boss Amorim if they choose to.
Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho
Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho were both left out of the derby squad(Image: Getty Images)
Yorke, who is currently the Trinidad and Tobago boss, added: "There’s two things that will happen with Rashford and Garnacho, either they react positively to what he's done, or they become miserable and difficult for the manager to deal with. They could make life difficult for the manager. Players with that kind of salary and status, they can really disrupt your dressing room.
"Rashford is a big name, he's probably the biggest name in the dressing room and the biggest earner. Garnacho, he’s had a few little issues, but he was probably one of United’s better players over the last few seasons. He’s a prospect. He’s talented.
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"I hope both players embrace this challenge and say, ‘We will get back in line. We will go to work.’
"But if it goes the other way and it's chaotic in that dressing room with those two, I don't like the word toxic, but it's a really bad place and that’s what could happen to Amorim’s dressing room, it could become toxic."
Read the full interview here.