Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho both hit the nail on the head over one first-team Manchester United player under manager Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford.
Manchester United lifted their last Premier League title under legendary former Red Devils and Aberdeen manager Sir Alex Ferguson in the 2012-13 campaign.
Ferguson retired as United manager in 2013 and the Red Devils have struggled in the aftermath of the 83-year-old Scotsman’s departure from Old Trafford.
Jose Mourinho would later follow in Ferguson’s footsteps and take his place as United manager, with the ‘Special One’ enjoying some success at the club.
The 62-year-old Portuguese coach led United to the Europa League trophy and the League Cup in his debut season at Old Trafford after he replaced Louis van Gaal.
However, Mourinho met the same fate as former United manager Louis van Gaal in the post-Ferguson era and the ex-Chelsea and Inter Milan boss was sacked in 2018.
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Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson and Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho attend the Euro 2024 Group A match between Germany and Scotland at the Munich Football Arena in Munich in 2024.
Photo by ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images
Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho already warned Ruben Amorim about Man Utd player Marcus Rashford
Ruben Amorim became the sixth permanent Manchester United manager in the aftermath of Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement after his arrival from Sporting CP.
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The 40-year-old former Sporting CP head coach’s reign also had a massive impact on Marcus Rashford, who was shipped out on loan to Aston Villa last season.
Marcus Rashford lost his place in the United starting XI under Amorim and the 27-year-old former Aston Villa player is tipped to leave Old Trafford this summer.
Sir Alex Ferguson had touched on Rashford when the England international was in the form of his life under ex-United manager Erik ten Hag in the 2022-23 season.
Rashford, who is under contract with United until 2028, netted an impressive 30 times in 56 matches across all competitions during the aforementioned campaign.
During the 2022-23 Premier League season, Ferguson insisted that he did not see Rashford as a striker and his best position was playing on the left-hand side.
“I don’t think he’s a striker,” he told Sky Sports in February 2023, as per The Daily Mail.
“He operates away from the left-hand side and has been fantastic.
“His finishing is always good, always keeps his shots down – which is really important for a striker – and is in a great vein of form.
“Unfortunately for us, he’s the main source of goals – we could do with an extra one, but he’s doing it.”
Jose Mourinho, who managed Rashford at Old Trafford, had echoed the sentiments of United legend Ferguson over the Three Lions star’s inability to play as a striker.
As a number nine, I don’t think he has the 30 goals a season in him,” he said in October 2019, as per The Athletic.
“I don’t think he can get better as a target man. He is not a target man, he is a man of movement.”
READ MORE: What Amad Diallo did with five Man Utd players in pre-season training proves his role under Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford
Ruben Amorim proved Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho were spot on about the striker remarks around Marcus Rashford
Fast-forward to 2024 and Ferguson and Mourinho’s points about Marcus Rashford not being suited for a striker manifested in Amorim’s first match as United manager.
Amorim played Rashford down the middle and the England star did have an immediate impact in United’s 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town last November.
Rashford netted in only the second minute, but he did very little after his early moment and he was hooked off in the second half for striker Rasmus Hojlund.
Following United’s Premier League match against Ipswich Town at Portman Road, Rashford was dropped to the bench for the Europa League tie against Bodo/Glimt.
Rashford came off the bench in United’s 3-2 comeback win against Bodo/Glimt at Old Trafford last November, which marked his last appearance for the Red Devils.