Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim refused to be swayed by questions over Marcus Rashford's continued absence from his team, with the Red Devils losing a third game in a week on Boxing Day.
Rashford has not played for his team since the Europa League victory over Viktoria Plzen in the Czech Republic, having admitted in an explosive interview that he is “ready for a new challenge”.
Since then, the striker has not played for United, missing each of the last four games, three of which ended in defeats for the Old Trafford club.
As the results are not going the way Amorim would like, the intensity naturally increases, specifically in regards to issues such as the absence of players and the conclusions that can be drawn from such absences.
So Amorim kept his cards close to his chest when questions naturally turned to the absent star, who has barely been breaking trees with his form this season, scoring just four in 15 Premier League games.
“It will always be the same reason,” he told Prime Video when asked about Rashford.
Ruben Amorim refused to be drawn into questions over Marcus Rashford's continued absence
Rashford has missed the last four games since United's clash against Viktoria Plzen this month.
'We have to be the same professionals, the same guys, win or lose. When I lose, I have to be stronger. I will continue with my idea until the end.'
“If he's not here, you can make up your mind,” added the Manchester United manager.
Rashford's continued exclusion from the team has been a topic of conversation more or less since his interview became public earlier this month.
While Amorim will know that the best way to make the questions go away is to change the results – if the investigations really bother you – it may also be important to take charge early enough to draw the line.
However, as former Man United defender Wes Brown suggested in Prime Video coverage, Rashford's form makes it difficult to force his way into a team with players like Amad Diallo thriving under the new regime.
“It's disappointing again that he's not in the team,” Brown said on Prime Video.
“It seems that the coach has set his conditions: 'If you want to be in the team, these are the conditions you must follow, whether in training, off the field, whatever.'
'And ultimately, that hasn't been resolved yet. It will be a very sad day if we see Marcus go.
Amorim left Rashford out for the Manchester derby, which his team won 2-1
Rashford had a brilliant 2022-23 season, but Ben Foster claimed the forward 'lost that fire'
'But ultimately you have to be on the same page as the coach. I honestly think it's getting closer (to Amorim's strongest lineup). I think this is the closest you're going to get right now.'
After 30 goals in the 2022-23 season, Rashford struggled to live up to the levels he had set in 2023-24, and his inconsistent form continued in 2024-25.
Mail Sport had reported earlier this month that the club could listen to offers of up to £40m for the England striker.
However, Ben Foster, who played for United, West Brom, Watford and Birmingham in the Premier League, hit out at Rashford and suggested that fee could still be too high.
'Marcus Rashford…' he said in his GK Cycling Podcast. 'There are so many people who talk about him who say “in his day, in his day.”
'His day is once every 10 games. Really, it's once every 10 games and you can't have a luxury player in the modern game giving you one game in 10, it's as simple as that.
“Coupled with the fact that he has so much reputation and baggage and everything that comes with it, I don't think Mikel Arteta wants that around that Arsenal side.
“He has to move away from Manchester United. I think it will be an MLS (move) or something like that. It will have to be a massive pay cut.”
Rashford said last week that he is “ready for a new challenge” in an interview after his sacking.
“Once the fire is out, will you be able to get it back?” he added. 'It has to come from him. I don't think I can get it back.
'Once again, you're talking about money that really ruins everything, guys.
'Once people have that huge contract and those five years in the bank and they have everything they will need for the rest of their life, that eliminates (that fire).
'They were talking about £40 million, you know too? Even with 10, I won't pay 10 million pounds… for everything.