Former Manchester United Boss Points Finger at Amorim for Marcus Rashford's Shocking Downfall

Ex-Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær has indicated that Ruben Amorim could potentially have done more to assist Marcus Rashford, prior to the academy graduate being sidelined and subsequently sent out on consecutive loan spells.

Rashford netted the opening goal under Amorim's management in November 2024, but was dropped the next month and never featured for the team again before moving to Aston Villa on loan in January. During this period, the Portuguese manager consistently pointed to Rashford's training attitude (or absence of it) as justification for his departure.

This campaign, Rashford has been regaining his form while on loan at Barcelona. Solskjær, who managed the player when he hit 20+ goals in back-to-back campaigns in 2019–20 and 2020–21, believes that rediscovered happiness is driving his enhanced performances in Spain.

"I haven't had a conversation with Marcus since I departed... just some text messages. It's just how things are," Solskjær commented on the latest Stick to Football episode, via The Overlap network.

"I'm not sure what's occurred in Marcus's personal situation, but you can tell he's having fun now at Barcelona. It seemed like he wasn't enjoying himself [at Manchester United] toward the finish."

Solskjær avoided naming Amorim directly, but shared his belief that any club's manager should investigate why a player might be unhappy, particularly when it impacts their performance. The Norwegian also seemed to criticize how the situation unfolded so openly.

"All the different pressures, each one is unique... life's pressures, football's pressures. We're unaware of what players have experienced when you arrive in the morning and notice them looking upset," he stated. "That's what managers do, [they] talk, 'What's wrong? I can tell something's bothering you.' And typically you don't discuss that with the press.

"We really don't know what occurred, you simply hope he succeeds because he's a phenomenal talent when he's in good form and content, and when he has drive."

Solskjær Explains Jadon Sancho's Man Utd Struggles

Another manager-player conflict that became very public was between Jadon Sancho and Erik ten Hag. Sancho is currently on his third straight loan away from the club, spending this term at Aston Villa. He joined under Solskjær in 2021, but the former manager regrets having minimal opportunity with someone who was previously among Europe's most promising young wingers.

"We sought players capable of unlocking defensive teams, and Jadon, with his technical ability, combination play, and intricate passes in the final third, provided that," Solskjær detailed.

"However, he faced misfortune. Prior to his arrival, he went on vacation and developed an ear infection. He was hospitalized, and really suffered during his initial 10 days before he could even begin training with us. This information hasn't been revealed previously. I never truly got to work with him effectively, because once he was regaining his rhythm, I was already heading toward my exit."