Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand can’t see a way back for Marcus Rashford after manager Ruben Amorim’s latest swipe.
Amorim suggested Rashford wasn’t giving his all in training after his latest squad omission for Sunday’s win at Fulham.
On his Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, the former United defender said: “If I was that player that the manager said that about, my heart, pride, ego, and embarrassment.
“For someone to doubt your application, to question whether you’re going out there and giving your all for your team, (implying) that you’re going to slack off and take shortcuts.”
“We all have days off or instances when we’re not doing well or lacking confidence, but effort isn’t something I’d want a manager to think I’m lacking.
“That’s a damaging comment, because I believe he is aware of the reaction to that comment. He is not expressing something without considering, ‘Where does this go after?’ There’s really no way back for Rashford after that, with that type of comment.
“You are looking at it and saying, ‘He (Amorim, who took over in November) has only been there for a short time, and he’s already gone, pulling out a nine-millimetre handgun and going bang’. There is no going back from that.
“If he comes back, that means other players can now take their foot off the gas and still have a way back into the team.”
Ferdinand went on to say, “If it isn’t true and he said that about me, I will come out all guns blazing.” I’m holding a press conference and saying, ‘I’m not having anyone talk about me like that in the media. But you only come out if you’re absolutely certain that nobody can say you take the shortcuts.
“In these cases, I believe it is important to express what you are doing correctly. Because the manager can criticize how well or poorly I’m playing, or my form, but if he’s questioning my effort, I’m sorry, I’m coming back out, next time I’m around any press people – ‘the effort, he needs to take that back or I’m suing him’.
“I’d love to sit across the table from Marcus, look in his eyes, and ask, ‘Can you say that? Could you have the confidence to go out and do that? Because if you can’t, look inside yourself.”