The Daily Star Ireland
Ruben Amorim, the new head coach of Manchester United, acknowledges that the club must establish clearer standards after Marcus Rashford and Casemiro faced criticism for traveling to the United States during the international break.
On the Stick to Football podcast, former United player Gary Neville questioned their professionalism, noting that Rashford attended a New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden and Casemiro took his family to Disney World in Orlando.
Amorim addressed this criticism in a Sky Sports interview with Neville, explaining that the players were given five days off, a time when they were free to make their own plans. The Portuguese coach emphasized that it was ultimately the club’s responsibility to set the right expectations for the players.
He explained, “They were told they had five days off and were free to do what they liked. It’s up to us, as a club, to set better standards. It’s my decision as a coach whether they have five days or three days off, and we can decide if flying is allowed during that time. The club needs to make these decisions, not the players.”
Amorim also pointed out that the situation at Manchester United has evolved since Gary Neville’s time under Sir Alex Ferguson, and it is no longer realistic to impose the same standards from that era. He noted the importance of leadership within the club and the need to create a fresh culture.
“The leadership was strong during your time, and the culture was already in place,” Amorim added. “But now, we must recognize that the environment is different. It’s up to us as a club to instill this new standard. The responsibility lies with us, not the players like Rashford or Casemiro.”
