Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has overlooked Marcus Rashford once again, leaving the divisive forward out of the squad for the visit of Bournemouth on Sunday for “selection” reasons.
Rashford was initially dropped by United’s new boss for last weekend’s Manchester derby before being overlooked for the midweek Carabao Cup quarter-final against Tottenham Hotspur.
United dramatically picked up three points against City last weekend, but were consigned to a bonkers 4-3 defeat by Spurs. Despite the cup exit, Amorim had no regrets about overlooking Rashford, who has publicly expressed a desire for a “new challenge”.
Ahead of Bournemouth’s visit to Old Trafford, Amorim insisted that Rashford trained with the team and was available. Yet, for the third game on the spin, the England international failed to even make the substitutes’ bench, let alone the starting XI.
Amorim bluntly told Sky Sports pre-game that Rashford had been omitted for the “same reasons” and brushed off the call as simply a matter of “selection”.
The Portuguese coach has not specifically outlined why the winger was dropped originally. Amorim would only point to the principles which he values after the Manchester derby, explaining that he makes his selection decisions based on “the performance in training, the performance in game, the way you dress, the way you eat, the way you engage with teammates and push teammates”.
While Rashford was still in United’s lineup – the forward has scored three goals in six appearances under Amorim – reports emerged claiming that the club had put their academy graduate up for sale.
Amorim was asked on Sunday by Sky Sports whether his team selection had been influenced by external figures at the club. The head coach produced a blunt response. “No, that is not possible,” he said. “It is my decision, and always will be. It’s selection.
“I want to see the best of my players, I try different things with different players.”
Rashford may not have been in United’s matchday squad, but he was pictured in the Old Trafford tunnel shortly ahead of kick-off. As Amorim explained, the manager will have taken not of Rashford’s attire – a black United-branded tracksuit – while watching his overlooked forward pose for photos with a young fan.