Amorim told he’ll be left red-faced and at risk of sack if ‘mind-blowing’ decision comes back to haunt him

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·4 febbraio 2025

Amorim told he’ll be left red-faced and at risk of sack if ‘mind-blowing’ decision comes back to haunt him

Now that the deal has been finalised, Paul Merson believes Ruben Amorim’s decision to exile Marcus Rashford could come back to bite him in the behind.

Prior to the forward’s Midlands switch to Aston Villa, he had been entirely cast aside from the Manchester United squad, with his last appearance coming in a Europa League clash away to Viktoria Plzen on December 12.

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He was dropped from the subsequent Manchester derby and, unlike Alejandro Garnacho, who was also left out at the Etihad, was never restored to the starting XI. Rashford missed 13 successive games in all competitions, during which United sustained six defeats.

After Amorim took the reins in November, Rashford made only three starts in total and returned the coach’s trust by scoring inside the first minute at Ipswich Town before notching a brace in a 4-0 win over Everton. He was then utilised off the bench in the following Premier League matches against Arsenal and Nottingham Forest, both of which were losses.

The 27-year-old has now committed his future to Villa for the remainder of the term – and potentially beyond if his £40 million buy option is activated.

Merson: Amorim may be left red-faced by Rashford exile

Rashford still trained with the squad despite being omitted each game. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Weighing in on the widely-publicised saga at Old Trafford, Merson told the Sky Sports News panel: “Ruben Amorim is running out of ideas at the moment. He’s struggling badly. What he’s done with the Rashford situation is mind-blowing.

“His job is on the line at this rate. If Rashford gets 10 goals in 10 games – and Manchester United carry on the way they’re playing – then the board will be asking the question: ‘What are you doing?’

“He might be one of them where the Villa fans and the manager open their arms to him, and he will go: ‘I’m going to show that Amorim. You bad-mouthed me, embarrassed me by saying I wouldn’t get in over a 63-year-old goalkeeper coach.’

“I think he can come back. It could end very badly for Amorim – he would be under severe pressure if they keep playing badly and Rashford starts ripping it up at Villa. He won’t be the Manchester United manager for long!”