Marcus Rashford has made it clear that he wants to leave Manchester United, and Gary Neville believes the forward is now in the 'last chance saloon' at Old Trafford if he were to stay
Ruben Amorim has excluded Marcus Rashford from his current squad
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Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
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Gary Neville was surprised at Marcus Rashford's omission from the Manchester United squad, adding that there could still be a "way back" for the disgruntled forward.
Ruben Amorim raised plenty of eyebrows by leaving Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho out of the squad for United's thrilling derby comeback on Sunday. And off the back of not featuring in their latest matchday squad, Rashford opened up on Tuesday about his future at Old Trafford, stating: "For me, personally, I think I'm ready for a new challenge and the next steps."
With United gearing up for their Carabao Cup quarter-final against Tottenham Hotspur tonight (Thursday), Amorim has made it clear he wants to retain Rashford as part of his vision for a successful United side. However, Neville was taken aback by the head coach's decision to sideline the 27-year-old so early in his tenure.
Discussing the situation on the It's Called Soccer! podcast, Neville said: "I think that it's been coming with Rashford and Garnacho. Not necessarily to the point where I thought they would be left out of the squad, I never thought that would happen. But it must be getting to a pretty low point for a new manager, who's only four weeks in, to get to a point where he's left those two out.
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"I said on Sunday after the game, if you asked me at the start of the season, 'who are Manchester United's best attacking players?' I'd have said Garnacho and Rashford. They're not even [in the matchday squad].
"I'm sure they'll come back in this week," Neville added before the clash with Tottenham. "I always like to think there's a way back. Players that I played with, that, to be fair, had a lot better form and a lot better careers, were left out in the stands at times. Famous players, who were quite openly thrown into the stands and it was big news, and there was a lot made of it.
"So it's not the first time this has happened at a football club, where a player has been discarded. However, Manchester United are looking for a cultural reset."
Amorim is executing his plans on the current United squad (
Image:
Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Neville also warned the United duo: "[Rashford and Garnacho] are going to have to respond to what will have been a big setback for themselves and they're going to have to respond well because I do think they're in last chance saloon."
Amorim clarified his stance regarding Rashford during Wednesday's presser, indicating the forward's future at the club despite transfer speculation.
"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," Amorim said when asked about Rashford's current situation at United.
"Of course (I would be happy to keep him), 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."
Rashford has admitted he may be ready for a 'new challenge'
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Image:
MB Media/Getty Images)
However, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has a different take on the matter. Also speaking on the podcast, the Liverpool icon said: "I think the decision for Amorim was actually very easy. I think it's one of them, where it makes him look really powerful, really strong. He sends a message, but he's not actually losing anything in the team.
"I'm not sure Rashford improves the team, certainly the current setup, the system. I think, in some ways, it was almost like an open goal or an easy win for the manager.
"He's not that good," Carragher continued. "He's a good player, he's been a good player for Manchester United. He hasn't been for about 18 months, and I don't think Rashford playing in that game... I don't think Manchester United are missing anything.
"He's the biggest name because he's the one we talk about a lot; he's the one on the highest wages, maybe, but I think it was an easy win for the manager. I don't think I'd be looking at that thinking, 'he's cut his nose off to spite his face here by leaving Marcus Rashford.' I wouldn't put him in Manchester United's starting XI."
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