Ruben Amorim has hinted Marcus Rashford will not get a second chance under him at Man Utd (Image: MUFC/GETTY)
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has taken a dig at Marcus Rashford despite his form on loan at Aston Villa. Following his England recall over the international break, which saw the United academy graduate make his first Three Lions start since November 2023, Rashford scored twice in Villa's FA Cup win at Preston to secure their spot in the semi-finals at Wembley. Rashford now has two goals and four assists in 10 matches for his loan club.
Only Bruno Fernandes - seven goals and four assists - has scored more or assisted as many times as the forward in United's last 10 games under Amorim. The Portuguese coach loaned Rashford out to the Villans in the January transfer window after he had fallen into exile at Old Trafford. But despite the 27-year-old's resurgence in the Midlands, Amorim clearly has little regret at letting him leave.
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The United manager said Rashford is only a top player "if he wants" to be as he once again called into question the player's application.
He had previously said in January: "He has to change. in this moment we have to set some standards. We are waiting for Rashford, if he wants it really bad. I have nothing against Marcus, but I have to make the same rules for everybody. I will not put [in] any player that doesn't give the maximum."
And speaking after his brace for Villa at Deepdale, Amorim said on Monday: "I know Rashford really well and everybody knows the talent that he has. He's a top player - if he wants [to be]. So I'm not surprised.
"It's a good thing we see our players doing well on loan in a different context. I'm planning the future, but I don't want to talk about the future at this moment. I just want to focus on the game."
Marcus Rashford has looked closer to his best on loan at Aston Villa (Image: GETTY)
Villa have an option to make Rashford's move permanent for £40million in the summer. But Emery said when asked if a decision has been made to sign the attacker after the win at Preston: "Not yet. The most important thing is the challenge now and this afternoon, recovering and then preparing for the match against Brighton.
"A decision about each individual player, it is to get the best of them and the best of us. We don't want to waste time thinking about it." Rashford himself explained of his return to form: "I think I can get fitter, I missed a lot of football before joining up with them.
"My body feels good, injury free and just enjoying my football for now. It's a great feeling, I feel like I've been slowly getting better and playing better football since I've been here."
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United play Villa in their final game of the season at Old Trafford on Sunday May 25 but Rashford will be ineligible to play his parent club. Between now and then, Emery's side have a Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool's conquerors Paris Saint-Germain and an FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace to play.
They also have another eight Premier League matches in their bid to finish in the top five and qualify for next season's Champions League. United's hopes of doing so appear reliant on winning the Europa League and they face Ligue 1 side Lyon in the quarter-finals this month.
