Ruben Amorim's turbulent fourteen-month spell as Manchester United manager concluded abruptly in early January, marked by persistent frustrations both on the pitch and within the club's hierarchy. The Portuguese tactician's ambitious 3-4-3 system failed to gel with his squad, leading to inconsistent performances and ultimately his dismissal shortly after the new year commenced.
A Recurring Concern Over Marcus Rashford
One of the most defining and public conflicts during Amorim's reign centred on forward Marcus Rashford. The academy graduate, who had dedicated a decade to United, found himself marginalised and is currently on loan at Barcelona, with a permanent transfer increasingly likely under Hansi Flick's guidance.
Amorim did not conceal his dissatisfaction with Rashford's application. Following a match against Fulham in 2025, he delivered a pointed critique. "It's always the same reason - the training, the way I see a footballer should do in life. It's every day, every detail," Amorim stated. "If things don't change, I will not change."
He emphasised that commitment was non-negotiable, starkly illustrating his point by saying he would prefer to select his 64-year-old goalkeeping coach, Jorge Vital, over any player not giving their maximum daily effort. This public remark effectively signalled the end of Rashford's immediate future at Old Trafford under Amorim, leading to a loan spell at Aston Villa before his eventual move to La Liga.
Philosophical Divide and Managerial Echoes
Reflecting later, Amorim admitted a fundamental disconnect. "What I say is I couldn't put Marcus to see the way you're supposed to play football and to train the way I see it," he explained, acknowledging that player-coach relationships can vary dramatically. "I just wish the best to Rashford... because he's a very good player."
Notably, Amorim's frustrations found a strong echo in the words of a legendary former United manager, his compatriot Jose Mourinho. Back in 2018, following his own departure, Mourinho discussed the challenges with modern players, directly naming Rashford among others.
"I think kids these days have a different social life... They reach maturity more slowly," Mourinho told Hristo Stoichkov. "When we talk about Luke Shaw, [Anthony] Martial, [Jesse] Lingard, [Marcus] Rashford, we're talking about kids with great potential but still lack... Character, personality, as they say in Spain as well, bad blood, that natural aggression."
Ten Hag's Parallel Observations
This theme was further reinforced by Erik ten Hag, another manager who succeeded Mourinho at United. Ten Hag highlighted the critical link between lifestyle and performance. "Every player knows, when your lifestyle is not right you can't perform in the league we have to perform in," he asserted.
He stressed that while support is essential, ultimate responsibility lies with the player. "He has to do it himself, at the end of the day. He has to set his life right, his training attitude right, he has to set his match attitude right. When he sets his professionalism he will perform because he's a class player."
As reports from The Athletic suggest Barcelona's desire to make Rashford's loan permanent, it appears his long-term future lies away from Manchester. The consistent thread of concern from three successive high-profile managers—Mourinho, Ten Hag, and Amorim—paints a compelling picture of a recurring managerial challenge at one of the world's biggest clubs.
