Ruben Amorim has addressed the swirling speculation regarding Marcus Rashford's potential loan move to Aston Villa, firmly dismissing the notion that Manchester United would feel "embarrassed" should the forward excel at Villa Park. This commentary comes in the wake of United's disappointing 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Old Trafford, a result that marks their seventh home league loss in just 13 matches. Such a record mirrors the club's poorest start, a dismal performance last witnessed during the 1893-94 season.
The situation at United has been further compounded by the injury of Lisandro Martínez, who was stretchered off in the second half. Amorim described the injury as a "serious situation," raising concerns not only for Martínez's well-being but also for the team's defensive solidity as they navigate a particularly challenging season.
Reports have emerged indicating that Rashford underwent a medical examination on Sunday in anticipation of a loan move to Villa for the remainder of the season. It is understood that the Birmingham-based club would cover approximately 75% of Rashford’s substantial £365,000 weekly wage, with performance-related bonuses potentially increasing this figure to 90%.
As highlighted by Yahoo! Sport, Manchester United's offensive struggles this season are stark, with the team managing a mere 28 goals in the Premier League—placing them alongside the league's bottom three teams and Everton in terms of goal output. Given this context, Amorim was questioned about the implications for United should Rashford find his scoring touch at Villa.
In response, Amorim stated, "Humiliating? It's not embarrassing. When you loan a player - and I don't think it's official - you expect him to play and to improve, so there is nothing humiliating there. I understand the question but I am just focused on my players, that's all. When the window closes, I will be really focused on just our team and to improve our team."
Additionally, there are reports suggesting that United are considering Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel as a potential loan replacement for Rashford. Amorim addressed this possibility, underscoring the need for his squad to enhance their performance: "When the window closes we will see the players. I'm focused on improving the team as a group, we need to win more games and we will try to do that, this season is like that. We need small improvements, try to win points, win the momentum, then we had setbacks and we go again."
He acknowledged the pressing need for improvement, remarking, "It's clear we need to improve. We'll see - there is one more day [of the market], let's wait until the window closes. We have to improve as a team to score goals and we are trying the best to improve the team. This market is really hard on the clubs to make some deals here. It's hard."
On the topic of Martínez's injury, Amorim shared, "I think it is a serious situation. He is not only a great player but a strong character in the dressing room. He felt it and when you are a player, you know when it is something serious. We are here to help him in this difficult moment like he has helped us."
As Aston Villa continue to navigate the complexities of the transfer market, the potential acquisition of Rashford could prove pivotal, not only for the player himself but also for a Villa side eager to build on their recent successes.