Rúben Amorim claims Manchester United are a “better team” with Marcus Rashford in the squad

Rúben Amorim has clarified that he feels Manchester United would be a better team if Marcus Rashford was in the squad despite his current exile from the first-team match days.

Manchester United conclude their Europa League league stage campaign on Thursday evening with a trip to Romania to face FCSB.

After opening the competition with three consecutive draws, United have found their rhythm, winning their last four matches. This upturn in form has lifted them from 21st to 4th in the standings, with Rúben Amorim aiming to make the Europa League his first trophy at the club.

United’s latest European win came against Rangers last week, followed by a 1-0 victory over Fulham in the Premier League. With four wins from six matches in 2025, they carry strong momentum into this fixture, but FCSB will provide a stern test.

Currently 8th in the table, the Romanian side need a win to secure automatic qualification for the knockout rounds.

Clubs finishing between 9th and 24th must navigate a two-legged play-off, while the bottom eight will be eliminated from the competition.

Amorim addresses Rashford comments

After the win against Fulham, Amorim was asked his weekly quetsino on Rashford, to which he hinted that he feels the player is not applying himself well enough in training.

“It’s the same situation for every player,” Amorim said on Sunday. “If you do the maximum, if you do the right things – we can use every player.

“You can see it today [Sunday] on the bench – we miss a little bit of pace to go, to change the game, to move some pieces, but I prefer [it] like that. I will put [Jorge] Vital [goalkeeper coach, on the bench] before I put a player that doesn’t give the maximum every day so I will not change that.”

As always, the press have once again asked about the player after he was not selected to travel with the squad to play FCSB, which has been the norm for weeks.

With journalists once again taking his answer out of context regarding the goalkeeping coach, Amorim clarified on Wednesday evening that his message was about players in general, and that he still feels United are a better team with him playing.

“Our team, you can look at our team and imagine the profile of the players, you know, now imagine a talent like Rashford… Our team should be so much better with Rashford, but Rashford, he has to change.

“If he changes, we are more than welcome to put a talent like Rashford and we need it, but in this moment, I think it’s really clear that we have to set some standards. That’s all. We are waiting for Marcus if he wants [to return].

“That’s the only thing, so it’s you you try to make like something personally. It’s not personal, I have nothing against Marcus. I just have to make the same rules for everybody and that for me. It’s so simple It’s always the same answer.”

Further, he was asked if he feels disappointed that Rashford is not hitting those standards, to which he replied: “I promise I will not give you nothing today about Marcus Rashford. I’m giving you a little bit. It’s the same thing, guys. We need goals. We need one against one. We need threat in the final third. Guys, what more do you need?”

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