The chance to land a hit on Manchester United has always been an attractive one for many after years of being dominated by Sir Alex Ferguson and Ruben Amorim now needs to reverse that trend.
To be fair, Manchester United have given others plenty of opportunities to land hits too by not helping themselves in the slightest.
This season, those hits have come by the way of Marcus Rashford and Antony, another two players who seem to have found form after leaving Old Trafford.
Aston Villa’s sporting director Monchi is the latest one to send a subliminal message to the Man Utd manager and the club with Rashford.
Photo by Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images
Photo by Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images
Aston Villa send Man Utd Marcus Rashford message
It was a popular trait of Sir Alex Ferguson to take slights against him and the team, genuine or imagined, and convert them into fuel.
That siege mentality is what drove the players to prove people wrong and perform at their best, something that needs to be brought back.
The current Man Utd side is arguably the most criticised in the Premier League era (partly rightly so!), and Ruben Amorim has been dragged to hell for his choices by the media.
Now, Aston Villa’s sporting director has made a Marcus Rashford claim that should have Amorim and Man Utd itching to prove him wrong.
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Speaking on Radio Marca, Monchi sent the general message that coming to Villa makes players better and head coach Unai Emery gives confidence to them, which is their main selling point.
He said: “Unai [Emery] is a coach who has historically helped players grow. Coming here makes players better, and that’s our main selling point, beyond offering a project that’s fighting for the top eight in the Champions League, that wants to continue growing, and that wants to keep playing in Europe.”
Ruben Amorim needs to shed negative reputation
Man Utd used to be a club where players who came either played the best football of their lives or were taught to flourish elsewhere.
Currently, leaving United seems like a necessity to play at their best which is the kind of reputation Ruben Amorim needs to shed for the club.
In Rashford’s case, it is common knowledge that his issues with managers pre-dated Amorim and yet, a narrative has been somehow painted that United were the problem because he’s playing well after leaving.
It seems like everyone chomps at the bit to have a go at United by using players doing well who didn’t succeed at Old Trafford like form is transferable to the most scrutinised club in English football.
That’s the reputation Amorim needs to shed by having players achieve their potential at this club. With the likes of Ayden Heaven and Chido Obi, it’s already off to a good start.