Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer felt differently about Marcus Rashford’s eyebrow-raising situation at Old Trafford under Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim.
Ruben Amorim made the big call to drop Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho from the Manchester United squad for the Manchester derby on Sunday.
United came from behind to beat Manchester City 2-1 at Etihad, but Amorim’s decision over his two aforementioned players raised eyebrows.
The 39-year-old Portuguese manager insisted that Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho were not dropped from Sunday’s match for disciplinary issues.
Amorim suggested that “selection” was behind his reasoning and his team “evaluate everything,” including training and “engagement with the teammates.”
Rashford has struggled with his form since his impressive 2022-23 campaign, with the United star netting 30 times in 56 appearances for the Red Devils.
However, the 27-year-old United forward disappointed in the 2023-24 season and Rashford only managed to score eight times in 43 matches across all competitions.
Rashford’s woeful form last season also led to the United player losing his place in the England squad, including missing Euro 2024 in the summer.
Lineker’s verdict on Man Utd star Rashford
Speaking on Sky Sports, Gary Lineker dropped his two cents on Marcus Rashford after Ruben Amorim dropped him for the Manchester United match on the weekend.
Rashford is out of contract with United until 2028 and the England star has broken his silence over his future at Old Trafford under Amorim.
The Three Lions international has hinted that his future could be away from the Red Devils and United are reportedly ready to sell Rashford.
Lineker is not sure if Rashford has reached the point of no return at United and the Match of the Day host wants to see him ‘rally’ and ‘perform well.’
“I hope he’s okay, first and foremost,” he said, as per the Metro.
“That’s important because we don’t all really understand the circumstances of footballers sometimes and it’s easy to have opinions.
“But obviously his form has been troubled and he’s not been as special as he can be in the last 18 months or so.
“Whether a parting of the ways is inevitable or not, I don’t know. I hope he rallies and performs well because he’s a big player and Manchester United is a huge football club.
“Amorim has said he wants him to battle on and keep going so hopefully that will happen.
“But there comes a time sometimes when a parting of the ways is necessary. I don’t know whether it’s reached that stage or not.”
Shearer reacts to Rashford’s situation
Alan Shearer, unlike Lineker, admitted that he sees it “from a manager’s point of view” and says Amorim “can’t afford to carry any passengers” at United.
“I would imagine that he’s got a lot of friends in the dressing room, some of them may understand. I know how dressing rooms work,” he said.
“He obviously would have been very frustrated that he wasn’t in the team or the squad at the weekend.
“But you’ve got to understand it from a manager’s point of view. He’s come to the team, he’s been hired to try and find a format and a successful way, so he’s got to look at different options.
“He’s chosen to leave him out and they’ve won the game which ultimately is the best answer for the manager, so he can say to the players and the players can understand where he wants to go with that football club.
“With the size of the club, he can’t afford to carry any passengers.”
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