Amorim explains the “red lines” Marcus Rashford has crossed that led to his explusion from first team squad

Ruben Amorim has suggested that the intensity and physical demands of the game are why Casemiro seems to have fallen down the pecking order at Manchester United.

Casemiro is currently in his third season at United, having joined the club in the summer of 2022 from Real Madrid.

He enjoyed a brilliant first campaign under Erik ten Hag but struggled in his second season and now finds himself surplus to requirements under Amorim.

The Brazilian last played for the Red Devils back on December 30 in a 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle. The last time Casemiro completed a full 90 minutes for United was in November when Amad Diallo’s brace secured the club all three points against PAOK in the Europa League.

In recent games, even Toby Collyer seems to have surpassed Casemiro in Amorim’s eyes. Casemiro was an unused substitute on Sunday as United beat Fulham 1-0 at Craven Cottage.

Amorim spoke to TNT Sports Mexico and insisted that there is no problem between himself and Casemiro, but a case of what is best for United as they seek to finish the season strongly.

“Sometimes it’s a lot of that. It’s also a player’s moment.”

“We understand that Casemiro has other things nowadays. The intelligence he has, understanding the game, understanding where the ball is going to fall but we’re in a league that I can see, even in European competitions, the difference in intensity is big.”

“And so, I feel that this team also needs players with a very high intensity. And sometimes we don’t have that and sometimes that difference in characteristic can lead one player or another to play.”

The United head coach added, “Even the fact that the group has a certain characteristic as a group. I needed some players in certain positions with a slightly different pace. But we all know the quality Casemiro has and everything he won.”

“And so, I have nothing to say about that. It’s just a choice.”

Another player that was discussed in Amorim’s interview was Marcus Rashford.  After the final whistle against Fulham, Amorim told reporters that he would rather play United’s 63-year-old goalkeeping coach Jorge Vital than Rashford.

When asked if his continued omission of Rashford from matchday squads is intended to send a message to the other stars, Amorim denied this.

“I don’t want to give messages to anyone.”

“I’m just very clear about what the players have to do. I’m demanding in certain things, but then I’m a coach like everyone else. There are just certain red lines that I feel that, for a group to win games and titles, you have to follow a criteria.”

“And so, if there’s no such criteria, then it’s all very subjective. And there are certain things that we have to be very clear with the players. That’s just it. I don’t want to send messages to anyone.”

United return to European action on Thursday when they face FCSB at the National Arena in Bucharest.

Featured image Richard Heathcote via Getty Images

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