Jamie Carragher has fully backed a “message” that Ruben Amorim has sent to one of his Manchester United players and called it an “easy win” for the manager.
Ruben Amorim arrived at Old Trafford in the November international break after Manchester United triggered his £9.25m release clause in his Sporting CP deal.
The 39-year-old Portuguese manager inked a contract until June 2027 and succeeded Erik ten Hag in the Old Trafford dugout.
Erik ten Hag was axed by the Premier League club in late October after a shocking start to the 2024-25 Premier League season.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, who was assistant manager under Ten Hag, took over as United interim manager until Amorim left Sporting CP for United.
The 48-year-old United legend won three matches and picked up a draw during his four-match interim spell before he left Old Trafford in November.
Carragher’s verdict on Amorim ‘decision’
Ruben Amorim made the big call to leave Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho out of his Manchester United squad for the 2-1 win against Manchester City.
Both Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho were dropped and Amorim insisted that there were no disciplinary issues behind his decision.
Amorim had hinted that the two aforementioned United players were not performing at the high levels that he expected from them in training.
Speaking on The Overlap US’ ‘It’s Called Soccer,’ Jamie Carragher has admitted that Amorim has come off as “really powerful and really strong” with his decision.
“I think the decision for Amorim was actually very easy and I think it’s one of them where it makes him look really powerful and really strong,” he said.
“He sends a message but he’s not actually losing anything in the team. I’m not sure Rashford improves the team certainly in the current setup […] so I think in some ways it was almost like an open goal or an easy win for the manager.
“Sometimes when we see players or managers make this decision, and they’ll take a big-name player out – it sends a message, and they think, ‘You know what, I’m going to take the risk […].’
“‘I’m going to this is for the greater good, I’m sending a message to the squad, I might lose something in this game today but I’m prepared to put up with that and accept it.’
“I don’t think you’re losing anything if Rashford’s not playing – he’s not that good.”
Rashford’s future at United looks bleak
Marcus Rashford is under contract with United until 2028 and the Red Devils star’s future at Old Trafford has been plunged into doubt after Amorim’s big call.
The 27-year-old United forward has failed to impress since his impressive 2022-23 campaign under former Red Devils manager Erik ten Hag.
Rashford’s form fell off a cliff under Ten Hag last season and the United player lost his place in the England squad for Euro 2024 in Germany in the summer.
The England international has hinted that he could be open to a move away from Old Trafford after falling down the pecking order under Amorim.
“If I know that a situation is already bad, I’m not going to make it worse,” he said in an interview with Henry Winter on X, formerly Twitter.
“I’ve seen how other players have left in the past and I don’t want to be that person.
“When I leave, I will make a statement, and it will be from me. When I leave, it is going to be ‘no hard feelings.’ You are not going to have any negative comments from me about Manchester United – that’s me as a person.
“I’m ready for a new challenge and the next steps.”
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