Speaking exclusively with BoyleSports, Manchester United icon Teddy Sheringham has stated that Marcus Rashford has been very badly advised and put a huge wedge between himself and the club.
The former England striker has also criticised Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s cost-cutting measures at his former club and gave his take on Ruben Amorim’s start to life at Old Trafford.
Man United’s Marcus Rashford Dilemma
Q: What are your thoughts on Marcus Rashford’s situation at Man Utd?
When you’ve got a huge contract at a club like Marcus Rashford has, it's one thing to think about a new challenge, it’s another thing to say it publicly.
I think Rashford has been very badly advised. He has been wrongly advised to say that and it’s put a huge wedge between him and the club. When you start talking about leaving any football club, let alone Manchester United, the fans do not like it.
He has a contract until 2028 and he was happy enough to sign that extension 18 months ago. Now is the time to dig in and stick with the task.
I don't think he's been advised in the right way in terms of how he's approached things.
Q: Has Ruben Amorim dealt with Marcus Rashford the right way?
I think Ruben Amorim has dealt with Marcus Rashford exactly how he feels right. He's the manager. If someone starts talking like that, obviously his mind is not firmly on the game and if it's not firmly on the game, he's not going to produce his best football.
He's given him a bit of time out and hopefully, Rashford will understand that he’s done the wrong thing by saying those sorts of things to the press and apologises for what he's done.
Hopefully, he gets his head straight and says that he wants to get back and play for United.
Q: Is there a way back for Marcus Rashford at Man Utd?
Manchester United are in the top three or four clubs in the world. I don’t know where Marcus Rashford thinks he is going to go to enhance his career or lifestyle.
He should be relishing his position at the club and be realistic about which club might sign him.
*Man United are 14/1 to finish in the top 6 per the latest Premier League odds at BoyleSports.
Man United v Liverpool Analysis
Q: What did you make of Man Utd’s performance against Liverpool?
Liverpool went into the game expecting to win but things don’t work out like that in football, Manchester United looked 100% committed to the game and Liverpool didn’t. That’s what made it a very even game.
Q: Was it a missed opportunity for Man Utd?
There were chances at both ends but the great chances fell to Virgil van Dijk and then Harry Maguire. Roy Keane thought that Maguire should’ve stuck the chance away but I think Daniel Sturridge was right. It was a bad pass from Joshua Zirkzee.
From a professional footballer you are expecting a better pass there and if it’s a better pass then it’s 3-2. It was a gilt-edged chance to beat the best team in the country and it was missed - and I put that down to Zirkzee.
Q: Is it a worry that Man Utd players only get themselves up for big games?
It’s a concern that Man Utd players have only got themselves up for the big games, it was very similar to the Man City game in that sense.
Man City and Liverpool would’ve both been expecting to beat United quite comfortably and you can’t go into games thinking like that.
When the favourites don’t play with 100% commitment then the underdogs have a chance. It does show though how far United have fallen in status that Liverpool thought it was going to be easy.
Inconsistency The Problem For This Man United Side
Q: Did we see a Man Utd team that should be in the top four?
The Manchester United performance against Liverpool was of a top four team, but there are another 18 games to go and you don’t expect to see that for the rest of the season.
The inconsistency is what needs to be sorted.
Q: How did Sir Alex get such consistency from his players?
Sir Alex was a manager who knew what it took to win games at Premier League level and knew what his team needed to win trophies.
He let the team know that if you play at 80% effort, you can get turned over by a team that gives it everything even if they have less talent.
He made sure we were aware of that and wanted games won as quickly as possible.
Ruben Amorim’s Start At Man United
Q: How would you rank Ruben Amorim’s time at the club so far?
It's very hard to be positive about Ruben Amorim when you don't get the right results.
But I like the way Ruben Amorim speaks, I think he has a very good manner about him. He obviously knows what he wants and I think in the way he's approached things with a plan.
I think the way he has chopped and changed his team is to show the hierarchy above him that certain players are not good enough and he’s giving them game time to prove it.
The only problem with that is that you end up in a sticky situation by doing so, he has put pressure on himself now and he needs to start getting results or it’ll be him going and not the players that he doesn’t think are good enough.
Q: Could we see Ruben Amorim abandon his system if things don’t improve?
I can understand the thought process but if Ruben Amorim abandons his system then there will be confusion that filters through to players. If certain players are getting used to the new system then that will all turn to confusion again.
If you start changing formations and your philosophy then it just brings more questions, he can’t show any disarray.
Red Devils in Relegation Battle?
Q: Was Ruben Amorim right to say that Man Utd are in a relegation battle?
By saying that Manchester United are in a relegation battle, Ruben Amorim is just being realistic. They are in the bottom half of the table.
But I don’t see it like that at the moment, they need to aim to get back into the top half and can still qualify for Europe this season.
They need to build on the Liverpool draw and start looking up the table. Ruben Amorim has a long contract and needs to show signs of what he can do. We have seen in the past that managers don’t often see out the length of their deals and if they don’t get results, he won’t get that far.
*Man United are 40/1 to be relegated according to the latest Premier League betting at BoyleSports.
Bruno Fernandes Showing The Right Attitude As United Captain
Q: Is Bruno Fernandes the right captain for Man Utd?
Bruno Fernandes is trying to lead by example but it’s not easy as a flair player, especially a flair player in a struggling team.
It’s hard to lead by example when you’re not smashing people with tackles, it’s easier to lead like that. When you’re passing and dribbling it’s not so simple.
But I think he has shown the right attitude and temperament and is becoming a good leader, he just needs to cut out the red cards because United need him on the pitch and need big moments in the second half of the season.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe Cost-cutting Measures Not What The Club Needs
Q: Are you in favour of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s cost-cutting measures?
I’m not a fan of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s cost-cutting measures. Football clubs are unlike any other business and you need to show love. You have to approach things with a family attitude and these small cost cuts are not what the club needs.
You need happy faces around the club and people who are all pulling together. There will be a big difference if people are worried about losing their jobs or their colleagues losing their jobs. It will have a big impact on people.
The club needs to be more worried about spending so much money on players who haven’t been good enough.
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