Amorim insists Rashford must change to play again for Manchester United

Ruben Amorim has said that if Marcus Rashford wants to play for Manchester United again he has to show he “wants it really bad” and change his standards.

Amorim last selected the forward for United’s 2-1 win at Viktoria Plzen on 12 December, citing “training reasons”. Two days later Rashford said he wanted a “new challenge” and since then he has been in only one match-day squad, for the 2-0 defeat against Newcastle at Old Trafford on 30 December.

The pair’s relationship has since deteriorated further. Amorim said on Sunday – after his side’s 1-0 victory at Fulham – that he would rather name his 63-year-old goalkeeper coach, Jorge Vital, than Rashford on United’s bench because of the 27‑year‑old forward’s application in training. It then emerged that the pair are no longer on speaking terms.

With the transfer window closing on Monday, Rashford’s hopes of a move are in the balance. The player’s wish is to join Barcelona on loan but the La Liga club face financial challenges which make a deal unlikely.

Given that, Amorim was asked before United’s final Europa League group game against FCSB on Thursdayif there is a way back for Rashford at United should he end up staying at the club. “You can look at our team and imagine the profile of the players. Now imagine a talent like Rashford? Our team should be so much better with Rashford. But he has to change,” the Portuguese said. “If he changes, we are more than welcome to put in a talent like Rashford. And we need it.

“We have to set some standards, that’s all. We are waiting for Marcus, if he wants it really, really bad. You try to make it personal but it’s not personal. I have nothing against Marcus. I just have to make the same rules for everybody. For me it’s so simple. It’s always the same answer.

“I promised you I would not give anything about Marcus Rashford, but I’m giving you a little bit. It’s the same thing. We need goals. We need one-against-one. We need a threat in the final third. What more do you need?”

Amorim was asked if he would consider ordering Rashford to train away from the main group. “I already spoke about Marcus,” the 40-year-old manager said. “Anything I give you tomorrow will be a subject. It’s the same thing for every player. There’s some players who don’t play. Casemiro doesn’t play, maybe he’s selected. Rashford is not selected but that is my choice.”

United are confident of finalising a deal in the region of €30m for the Lecce full-back Patrick Dorgu. Asked about the transfer window in general, Amorim said: “This window is always really difficult, and we don’t want to make the mistakes of the past. We have to understand the situation of the club, a lot of things are changing. We have to be careful in this type of window and you guys know the situation of the club at the moment, so it’s not easy.”

United require a victory against FCSB to guarantee a last-16 Europa League place.