Ruben Amorim: Man Utd manager says club may be at one of its lowest moments, gives Marcus Rashford squad update | football news

Ruben Amorim has admitted Manchester United are suffering from “perhaps one of their lowest moments” and called for everyone, including exiled Marcus Rashford, to be “strong in the moment”.

United were beaten 3-0 by Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Sunday to leave them 13th in the Premier League table, and Amorim’s side go into a Boxing Day trip to Wolves having lost three of their last four games.

Meanwhile, former United talisman Rashford has been left out of the last three matchday squads and gave a fantastic interview last week to announce he is looking for a ‘new challenge’.

Asked if the Rashford saga is in danger of becoming a distraction, Amorim said: “No, I don’t think so. Not for me, not for the other players.

“Because everybody is there every day during training. They understand. That’s the key point. For the media and for the rest of the people, I can’t control that.

“But I’m very focused and they know I’m so clear in my message. Everyone at Carrington knows what I’m talking about and what I want from Marcus and everyone else. It’s not a distraction for us, maybe it is for the media. But it’s not my concern.”

Asked what he wants to see from Rashford, Amorim replied: “Like any other player, the best he can be.

“If you have great talent, great performance, great responsibility, it drives everybody right now. Some guys have a big responsibility here because they’ve been here a long time.

“This is perhaps one of the lowest moments for our club, so we have to face it and be strong in this moment. That’s what I want from every player in the team.”

Amorim: I know what I’m doing

Rashford was left out of United’s matchday squad for the first time ahead of the Manchester derby win on December 15 and Amorim has confirmed the striker wants to play for the team but the Portuguese manager is standing by his call-up .

“Yes, it’s my decision,” Amorim said. “He wants to play, he’s trying, but it’s my decision, only my decision.

“I’ve talked to a lot of players, individually and during training. I do it my way and it’s the only way I know. If I don’t do it, I’m lost and I don’t want to be lost. I know what I’m doing.”

Rashford was an ever-present figure under previous manager Erik ten Hag and Amorim claims he cannot blame the Dutchman’s reign as his side are currently struggling in the Premier League.

United’s problems were summed up by a leak that emerged from the ceiling of the press conference room during Amorim’s post-Bournemouth briefing, with the Portuguese manager even using the comical moment to claim that can turn the club’s fortunes around.

“It’s a hard question to answer, and we need to know: Don’t let this become normal,” he said.

“I understand that it is a difficult time and it depends on me. From the first day I arrived, it depends on me because I am responsible for the team.

“We can’t think about it, we have to think about improving, understand the context and not focus on what happened in the past. The present is that, what we have to do in the future is (not let that) happen again

“If he knew, he would solve all the club’s problems, even this one (points to the leak in the ceiling of the press conference room).

“I know what I’m going to do, that’s so clear to me, that’s why I feel so – I won’t say relaxed because I’m very frustrated – but I know what to do.

“But we have to solve the problems step by step, finding answers for everything, but it is a very difficult time, we understand the fans and we will fight against it.”

Amorim’s passionate message to Man Utd fans

Amorim also spoke of the “anxiety” of Manchester United fans around Old Trafford during the defeat to Bournemouth, but says he cannot blame the fans for “doing everything right” from the stands.

The 39-year-old also admitted that he understands the frustration and disappointment the players are showing.

“I can’t say better things about the fans,” he said. “What I’m trying to say to the fans is: We get it. As a coach I get it. I get the moment, the frustration and the disappointment. I get it.

“We will improve, it will take time. I said the same thing after we beat Everton and people were talking about the top four. So I know it will be very tough but it is important for us in this side to say that. the supporters we understand, i understand them.

“And they are amazing, the support we have. We are having a season that we haven’t seen for (many) years and we know it. The only thing is to face it, prepare for the next game like we won, if you can say that, and then try to win a match again.

“It’s just us. They need our help, not the other way around. They’re doing everything right.”