1 week Ago By [email protected] (Samuel Luckhurst)
Marcus Rashford was booed by Manchester United supporters when he was substituted in their Europa League win over Viktoria Plzen. Rashford was recalled to the starting line-up but was removed in the 56th minute, having been booked in added time of the first half. The 27-year-old did not acknowledge head coach Ruben Amorim when he went off.
Amorim high fived Tyrell Malacia and Joshua Zirkzee when they made way five minutes later. United were prepared to sell Rashford in the summer but there was no market for the forward, who signed a £325,000-a-week five-year contract in July 2023. The club have not changed their stance despite a probable lack of takers.
READ MORE: Amorim reacts to Hojlund and Amad full-time row READ MORE: Amorim admits frustration with some United players and it is easy to guess who Rashford has started in three of Amorim's six games in charge so far and scored the first goal of the Portuguese's reign after 80 seconds away at Ipswich. Rashford struck twice in United's last Premier League victory against Everton but his performance in the Czech Republic audibly irked United's hardcore contingent. If Rashford does not start against Manchester City on Sunday it will be the first time he has been dropped for a derby since March 2022 when Ralf Rangnick was the interim manager.
It emerged the next day that Rashford was considering his future at the club. Friction developed between Rashford and United matchgoers throughout last season and he was sarcastically cheered off when he was hooked during the Manchester derby defeat to City at Old Trafford 14 months ago. United fans also booed Rashford when he hobbled off in the FA Cup semi-final against Coventry City in April.
Rashford scraped only eight goals last season and has managed seven so far this term. He has not been included in the England squad since March. Some United supporters in the Doosan Arena away end also turned on Diogo Dalot amid his struggling form.
A season-ticket holder in attendance at the game said: "I've not been in an away end since Midtjylland that was so toxic." United lost 2-1 to Danish minnows Midtjylland when Louis van Gaal was in charge in February 2016 amid a clamour for the Dutchman to be sacked. United fans chanted, "Freezing cold on a Thursday night and we're playing f*****g s***e," as they endured their worst defeat under Van Gaal.
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