Better-than-ever Marcus Rashford exposes Ruben Amorim hypocritical approach – Opinion | OneFootball

With every mesmerising display for Aston Villa, Marcus Rashford is proving that Ruben Amorim had pulled the trigger way too soon.

The 27-year-old produced yet another brilliant showing on Friday night, leading the Villains towards victory over Cardiff City in the FA Cup fifth round. Although fellow January signing Marco Asensio stole the headlines with a brace that separated the two sides, the Manchester United youth product was equally influential.

Rashford provided one of the two assists for the Spaniard while producing six chances in general. According to Opta Joe, this equals the most chances he had ever created in a single contest throughout his 426 appearances for the Red Devils.

The brief yet eventful time Amorim and Rashford shared at Carrington is well-documented at this stage. The Portuguese tactician dropped the England international from his squad only a few weeks following his arrival due to an alleged lack of effort in training. After spending more than 45 days in exile, the striker sealed a loan move to Aston Villa.

But since his arrival in Birmingham, the Englishman has looked sharp, physically, mentally and technically. In other words, he doesn’t exactly give the impression of a player who hasn’t been training properly for months.

Nevertheless, let’s cast aside the current evidence and take the manager’s word at face value. When Amorim accepted the Man Utd job, he should have been well aware of the size of the task required since he’s taking over a club where crisis has become the norm rather than the exception.

Therefore, coming in and implementing a new tactical approach was never going to be enough with this depressed, heavily scrutinized bunch. What these players really need is a manager who would act as a mentor, an older brother, or perhaps even a psychologist. However, Amorim wasn’t any of those things for Rashford.

Why Ruben Amorim was too hasty in judging Marcus Rashford

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Yes, the England star certainly had his sins, but what the Portuguese coach failed to spot was how much the negative atmosphere had weighed on a player who grew up supporting the Reds. In his diagnosis, Amorim believed it’s the other way around, treating the striker like a cancer that must be removed from the locker room.

While the Red Devils have plummeted to new lows under the guidance of their new manager, the latter is asking to be judged on the long-term rather than immediately, and rightfully so, since his arrival didn’t come with a magical wand.

That being said, it was a bit ironic to see Amorim passing a swift and definitive judgment on Rashford while demanding more time for himself.

At the age of 40, the former Sporting coach remains a work in progress, and is thus expected to commit blunders on the way. Therefore, a slightly more tolerant approach towards Rashford would have been both fair and rewarding, as he wouldn’t have shot himself in the foot by limiting his attacking options to the struggling Hojlund and Zirkzee.