Key Takeaways:

• Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has frozen out Marcus Rashford due to perceived lack of effort.
• Amorim stated he would rather have his 63-year-old goalkeeper coach on the bench than a player not giving maximum effort.
• Rashford has not been part of the matchday squad since mid-December, leading to speculation about his future.
• The team won 1-0 against Fulham, providing a narrow victory under Amorim's management.

In a surprising declaration, Ruben Amorim, the Manchester United manager, suggested he would prefer to include his 63-year-old goalkeeping coach, Jorge Vital, on the bench over forwards like Marcus Rashford. This statement underscores Amorim's dissatisfaction with Rashford's training and overall commitment since he has not appeared in a matchday squad for six weeks. The England international was omitted again during the recent Premier League victory over Fulham, a match that emphasized Rashford’s decline in status within the team.

Amorim stated, “It’s always the same reason—training and the approach a footballer must embody every day. If things don’t change, I will not change.” His strong stance reflects an unwillingness to compromise on player effort: “I will put [goalkeeper coach] Vital before a player who doesn’t give the maximum every day,” he asserted, emphasizing the importance of dedication in football.

Rashford's situation has become increasingly precarious as he had openly expressed a desire for “a new challenge.” His exclusion from the squad amidst rumors of potential transfers to clubs like Barcelona and AC Milan adds to the uncertainty regarding his future at United. Sources close to him have maintained that he is prepared to contribute should an opportunity arise, as reported by The Guardian.

Amorim, who turns 40 soon, reflected humorously on his challenging tenure thus far, stating that he feels much older after a tough start managing United. Amidst struggling performance outputs, he remarked, “You cannot see a great improvement in the team and that is a fact. But to win helps us to improve,” following a narrow 1-0 win at Fulham as noted by AP News.

United’s recent win highlighted Amorim's efforts to establish stability in a team that has been marred by inconsistent performances under his management. As the transfer window draws near, all eyes remain on Rashford's situation and whether he can reintegrate into a squad that seems increasingly unwilling to entertain half-hearted contributions.

To read more, check out the complete coverage from Reuters.