Marcus Rashford “has to work” and “represent his club”, Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has said after the striker missed his side’s FA Cup third round win at Arsenal.
Former United top scorer Rashford has missed seven matches in all competitions due to a combination of team selection and illness, with the former England international’s brother and agent Duane reportedly on the hunt. of a new club for the 27-year-old this month.
“I don’t know,” Amorim replied when asked if Rashford had played his last game for the club he joined at the age of seven, via Aerial sports.
“He’s a Man Utd player. We’ll see. He has to work, represent his club and he loves his club, but I have to make choices. Let’s continue and see in the next match. I have to make a selection.
Rashford scored three goals in Amorim’s first two league matches after the Portuguese joined Sporting in November, but the former England international will have gone more than a month without being involved by the time United host Southampton in the first division Thursday (8 p.m. GMT).
Joshua Zirkzee keeps his cool to send Manchester United into the next round! What a tragedy!
Watch the FA Cup on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport app#BBCFACup #BBCFootball #FACup pic.twitter.com/NHdYKOtgsY
– BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 12, 2025
Amorim: Zirkzee “changes the game”
Joshua Zirkzee, signed in July, scored the winning kick in his match 5-3 penalty shootout victory against the Gunnersafter a 1-1 draw in which Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring and Gabriel responded after Diogo Dalot received a second yellow card for the visitors.
“He’s a good guy,” Amorim said of £36.5million striker Zirkzee. “He works a lot. Life has these beautiful things. A few weeks ago, [he was] in a difficult time – he is now a game changer for us.
“Sometimes you have the feeling that everything will be okay in the end. I felt it since the start of the second half.
“I also think the Arsenal team felt that maybe it wasn’t their day. We deserved to get through this round because we all suffered together and showed character.
“We love it [Ruben Amorim]» #BBCFootball #FACup pic.twitter.com/aLVAz7juTQ
– Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) January 12, 2025
Bayindir, a “hero” of Man United
Arsenal took 26 of 33 shots on goal between the sides, with United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir making a series of excellent saves and tapping Kai Havertz’s effort against a post in the only unsuccessful penalty of the shootout.
“As a footballer, your life has cycles and moments and sometimes your life can change,” Amorim said, calling the Turkey international “our hero” and adding that critics were “pointing fingers” at the 26-year-old. years after United’s 4th game. -3 EFL Cup defeat to Tottenham on December 19.
Bayindir has only appeared for United in domestic cup competitions this season, with Andre Onana playing every minute of their 20 league matches and six Europa League matches.
