'No way back' for Rashford at Man Utd - Ferdinand - Voice of Asia

England forward Marcus Rashford has been warned there is “no way back” at Manchester United after his professionalism was questioned by manager Ruben Amorim. Rashford has not featured for United since December 12, and Amorim stated on Sunday that he would rather have 63-year-old goalkeeping coach Jorge Vital in the team than “a player who doesn’t give his all every day.”

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, a six-time Premier League winner, believes Rashford must leave Old Trafford. "If I'm a player and I'm getting spoken about like that by the manager, my inner core, my pride, my ego is embarrassed," Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel. "When someone is questioning your application, questioning that you're not giving 100% for the team, saying you're lacking effort and cutting corners, that's a very damning assessment. There's no way back for Rashford after that."

Ferdinand added, "If he does get back in, it means other players can relax and get back into the team and continue to cut corners." Premier League champion Chris Sutton said Rashford needs to improve his attitude. "He's too big for his boots," Sutton said on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club. "What Amorim has said is quite simple, but for whatever reason, Rashford is sulking, and that is totally unacceptable."

Sutton continued: "We all know Marcus Rashford has been a brilliant player, and probably still is. What Amorim has done is his last resort, and he's fully entitled to do it. He's not asking for anything unusual, just that Rashford gives his all every single day. He has done it before, but for some reason, he's not doing it now." Rashford has been at United since the age of seven, making over 400 appearances, winning the Europa League, two FA Cups, and two League Cups.

Amorim took over as Manchester United manager in November, replacing Erik ten Hag, and Rashford scored in Amorim's first game in charge, a 1-1 draw away at Ipswich on November 24. Rashford also scored twice in a 4-0 win over Everton a week later but was then left out of the squad for United's 2-1 win over Manchester City on December 15 and subsequently told journalist Henry Winter he was "ready for a new challenge."

Ferdinand believes Rashford should have made a public statement if Amorim's latest comments were untrue. "For me, if that's not true, I'm coming out swinging. I'm having a press conference and saying, 'I'm not allowing anyone to talk about me like that'," Ferdinand said. "You only do that when you're 100% sure that no one can say you're cutting corners. We're in an era now where you can communicate directly with the fans so that the story doesn't get twisted."

Ferdinand added: "I'd love to sit down opposite Rashford, look him in the eye and see if he can say that. If not, you've got to look at yourself." Rashford was linked with a move away during the January transfer window, and former United first-team coach Rene Meulensteen said the forward should leave. "If I'm Rashford, I would do everything I can to see if I can get a move, no matter what," Meulensteen said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Meulensteen argued: "It's the best for all parties, and Rashford can rediscover himself in a new league. Highlighting individual issues of players publicly is never a good thing. It doesn't do anybody any good. It doesn't do the player any good, it doesn't do the manager any good, it doesn't do the club any good." Rashford has 60 caps for England, including playing in the 2021 European Championship final against winners Italy. He scored 30 goals in all competitions for United in the 2022-23 season, but Ferdinand said Rashford needs to prove he can find that form again.

Ferdinand added: "When is that penny going to drop that it's not someone else's fault, and the only person who can change it is myself, not the manager, not someone telling me I have to play a certain way. Then go into training every day with energy because you're a lucky person, don't think anyone owes you anything. Go and earn the right to play, go and earn the plaudits." Sutton said Rashford is in danger of losing his prime years, adding: "If he doesn't move, unless he really gets back in favor and works hard, he could be on the sidelines for a while, and that's no good for anyone."

Here is a timeline of Rashford's recent events: November 24: Marcus Rashford scores his first goal for Manchester United under Ruben Amorim in a 1-1 draw with Ipswich. December 1: Scores twice in a 4-0 win over Everton. December 12: Substituted after 56 minutes of a Europa League game against Viktoria Plzen. United were 1-0 down, and his replacement, Rasmus Hojlund, scored twice in a 2-1 win. December 15: Left out of the Manchester United squad for their 2-1 win over Manchester City. December 17: In an interview with Henry Winter, Rashford said he "needs a new challenge." January 20: Sources close to Rashford say he "has not given up hope" of playing for United again. January 26: When asked about Rashford, Amorim said he would rather have the 63-year-old goalkeeping coach on the bench than "a player who doesn't give his all every day."