Concerns are mounting over Ruben Amorim's management at Manchester United, particularly following the controversial loan departure of Marcus Rashford to Aston Villa. Former footballer Paul Merson has voiced his apprehensions, suggesting that this decision could jeopardise Amorim's position at the club. The Red Devils are currently enduring a challenging season, having suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Old Trafford, which has left them languishing in 13th place in the Premier League table.
This season has proven to be particularly arduous for Manchester United, who have managed to secure only eight victories from their 24 league matches. Alarmingly, only four teams have scored fewer goals than Amorim's side, indicating significant deficiencies in their attacking capabilities. The decision to loan out Rashford during the January transfer window has raised eyebrows, especially considering the forward has featured in just one match since the team's victory over Manchester City in December.
Reports suggest a growing rift between Amorim and Rashford, exacerbated by the manager's public criticism of the player's training efforts. This breakdown in their relationship ultimately culminated in Rashford's loan move to Aston Villa, with the Midlands club reportedly holding an option to buy the England international for approximately £40 million.
Merson highlighted that Rashford has outperformed both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee in the Premier League this season, emphasising the potential ramifications of allowing the academy graduate to depart. In his analysis on Sky Sports, Merson stated: "I think the manager is running out of ideas. What he has done with Rashford is mind-blowing. I think his job is on the line with Rashford. If he gets 10 [goals] in 10 [games for Villa], you would be seriously asking questions, 'what are you doing?'"
Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta played a pivotal role in his team's victory over United, scoring both goals. Merson believes Mateta would be a valuable addition to Manchester United, asserting, "United need a big strong lad up front. They should go and get [Jean-Philippe] Mateta. But they won't because he plays for Palace. He is 100 times better than what they have at Man Utd, apart from [Amad] Diallo."
Former United defender Mikael Silvestre has also weighed in, labelling Amorim's public criticism of Rashford as "disrespectful." Speaking on beIN Sports, Silvestre remarked: "I think it's too much. I think it's disrespectful. You can say over the time he's been in charge, his communication has been difficult for him. Losing games, having player selection difficult, injuries. But talking about Marcus in such a way, nine years old he joined Manchester United, I think this type of conversation, you can have it privately. In public, I don't think that does anyone any favours, the team, the owners or Marcus."
As reported by Football365, the situation surrounding Rashford's loan continues to evolve, with Gary Neville also commenting on the player's transfer to Aston Villa. Additionally, Manchester United are reportedly intensifying their efforts to acquire Sporting Lisbon talent Geovany Quenda. Jamie Carragher has expressed scepticism regarding Rashford's loan, stating he "never saw" the United star moving to a major European club. Jamie O'Hara further warned that the Red Devils "could be left with egg on their face" after allowing Rashford, described as "their best striker," to join Aston Villa on loan.
As the season progresses, the scrutiny on Amorim's management will only intensify, particularly if Rashford thrives at Aston Villa, raising further questions about the direction in which Manchester United are heading.