After a confidence-boosting and epic win in the derby last Sunday, things have quickly moved on as United travel to Spurs in the quarter final of the Carabao Cup with a chance of realistic silverware in Amorim's first season at the club.
However, after comments from an interview last night and not selecting him in the squad for the derby, that game tomorrow night took a back seat as all things were focused on Marcus Rashford.
He did an interview with Henry Winter yesterday while visiting his old school in which Rashford revealed that he "is ready for a new challenge" hinting that his time at Old Trafford is up.
Amorim was obviously asked about Rashford wanting a new challenge to which the manager replied that "we have here a new challenge." He cites that given the difficult circumstances of United's current situation, he will need all his players ready.
Rashford's future has been up for debate for a while and his recent interview adds further speculation to it. Amorim says that he is focused on the present and does not "talk about the future." He also says that he wants the best of Rashford and the other members of the squad.
The Portuguese boss says that United and the team are better with Rashford and that "we try our best to push Marcus Rashford to the level he is at before."
Amorim wants to keep Rashford because at United, big talents are needed and "he is a big talent." The manager's goal is to help his forward perform at his highest levels.
There has been no communication between Amorim and Rashford since that interview as the players had a day off yesterday but admits that his number 10 is ready for the next game.
With the big omissions of Rashford and Garnacho from the matchday squad at the Etihad, the MUFC manager says that "if they [Rashford and Garnacho] train well, then I have to make a choice." With there still being another training session ahead of tomorrow's game, the decision on whether these two players or any other player will be part of the squad will be made then.
Final Thoughts
We knew that everything was going to be about Rashford and I guess it is pretty big news but it is a little boring at this point because everything seems to be about him.
Anyway, I've said my piece on Rashford here but on what Amorim said regarding the player, I like the fact that he said that Rashford's challenge is here at United. It's like putting the ball back in the player's court and is pretty similar to what he said after the Ipswich game in that it depends on how much Rashford wants it that will determine whether he is good enough or not.
He does talk pretty glowingly about his forward which is what you'd expect from the manager but he maintains that for Rashford and every other player, it comes down to how well they train which results in whether they make it into the team or not. There are no guarantees and there is no favoritism which is something we've wanted to see for a long time.
Leaving him and Garnacho out of the derby entirely was a big call and sent a huge message to the dressing room that if you don't perform, you're gone.
Rashford said that he feels 'misunderstood' when it comes to his professionalism and attitude but when we see him play, he's shite with a shite attitude which is why many want him to be substituted. If he has this same attitude in training, then no wonder Amorim left him out on Sunday. There should be no place for that at United, regardless of who you are.
Rashford is a big talent as many of us believe and with Amorim stating that he wants to help him get back to his best, he clearly sees that talent too but it's not just about the coach helping the player, but the player helping himself.
If Rashford doesn't want it enough, then whatever the manager or coaches do to try and help him will end up being useless.
Background Image: Ruben Amorim | Creator: Zohaib Alam - MUFC | Credit: Manchester United via Getty Images - SuperSport