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Youri Tielemans has firmly pushed back against criticism of Marcus Rashford's dedication to football, delivering a passionate defense of his Manchester United teammate ahead of a clash with the manager who most vocally fueled those doubts.
A quirk of long-scheduled preseason fixtures has thrown Ruben Amorim's AC Milan into a Saturday showdown in Poland against his former club Manchester United. During his troubled 14-month tenure at Old Trafford, Amorim famously banished Rashford from the first-team setup, at one point suggesting he would have preferred his then 63-year-old goalkeeping coach over the England forward.
The criticism consistently directed at Rashford centered on an alleged unwillingness to "give the maximum every day" away from competitive action. "The reason is the training," Amorim had explained, "the way I see what a footballer should do. In training, in life and it's every day, every detail."
Seeking regular first-team football, Rashford moved to Aston Villa on loan at the beginning of 2025, where he would first cross paths with Tielemans. Despite all the noise surrounding his new teammate's attitude, the Belgian international was taken aback by the player who actually showed up in Birmingham.
"There was such a big thing made out of him that he wasn't committed or wasn't in it for the right reasons or whatever. And you see the player coming in and it's completely opposite from what you hear," Tielemans told Rio Ferdinand on his self-titled YouTube show.
"He was committed. He was doing the work. He was positive with everyone. You know, he was just a normal guy, you know."
"He's got amazing qualities," United's headline summer signing added. "And I mean, his touch, his acceleration, his finishing, you know, his qualities on the ball. But then I think what surprised me most with him was his commitment."
Tielemans Sets Out What Rashford Needs for Man Utd Success
With his work ethic no longer in question and his broad skillset already well recognized, Tielemans argued that the key to Rashford's successful return at Manchester United rested entirely with those around him.
"I think he needs us," the former Villa midfielder said. "That's it. I think he just needs support behind him. And he would always create something.
"So it's something that, as a player, you want in your team. You want that type of player in your team that can create at any moment. He can dribble past one, two, three players and then lay off for someone that can score. So to have him fit and ready to go with us would be great."
Rashford's Amorim Reunion Beckons
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick, in sharp contrast to his predecessor, has spoken nothing but positively about Rashford. "He's our player. He's come back great, like any other player. I've known him a long time, he gives us something a bit different," Carrick said earlier this week.
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After an extended break following England's run to third place at this summer's World Cup, Rashford watched United's friendly against Leeds in Dublin from the stands. With additional training sessions now behind him, the 28-year-old has been named in the traveling squad for Saturday's match against Milan and, perhaps most notably for the winger, a reunion with Amorim.
Kobbie Mainoo could also earn minutes against a manager who frequently left him out during their time together at Old Trafford, while World Cup finalist Lisandro Martínez—who reportedly had an "intense" falling-out with Amorim prior to his January departure—may also see action.
Given the players potentially on show, this threatens to be a friendly in name only.