Ruben Amorim imposes second ban on Man Utd squad as boss lays down the law

New Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has made it clear that he will not allow players to treat international breaks as additional holidays in the future. This comes in the wake of the recent controversy involving Marcus Rashford and Casemiro during the latest two-week off-period this month.

Having just taken over at Old Trafford, Amorim found himself with a limited squad for training due to many players being away on international duty.

Rashford and Casemiro, who are currently not involved with their national teams, took advantage of the break to travel to the United States, where they were spotted enjoying some basketball.

Rashford was pictured at an NBA game between the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets at Madison Square Garden, while Casemiro enjoyed a family trip to Disney World in Florida and attended an Orlando Magic basketball match.

Amorim has been quick to establish his authority in Manchester. And he has stated that although he doesn’t blame Rashford and Casemiro for their actions, such liberties won’t be permitted in the future if players are not selected for international duty.

He said: “Would I set a different structure? Yes, for sure. But we cannot put this on the players.

“They [United] told them they have five days off so they can fly anywhere because nobody in the club says you cannot fly. So we cannot, this time, put that on Rash or Case.”

Former United star Gary Neville was among those who weighed in on the subject, criticising Rashford and Casemiro’s decision to travel, particularly given Manchester United’s current challenges.

Neville pointed out that neither player was performing at their best and suggested that the trips were not the most beneficial way to spend their recovery time, especially as a new boss arrived at Carrington in the same week.

“I’m not that wound up about Rashford and Casemiro going over to the United States, but what I’m asking is, if you’ve got a four-day break, it is a 12-hour flight and an eight-hour time difference, your jetlag is bad, and you feel a bit [rough],” Neville explained on Stick to Football.

“I’m asking the question based on professionalism – you’re playing badly, the team are losing, your 13th in the league, and there is a new manager coming in – would you choose that trip as a break to recharge your batteries? That’s not a recharging trip. It’s not right that.”

Amorim has confirmed that he will make adjustments during upcoming international breaks, stating”Us as a club have to set the standards and have to manage that.

“It’s my decision if they can have five days, or three days, or three days to rest, and you cannot fly. This is something that us as a club have to decide. So this must be started in the club, with us and me being responsible in that area.”

Famed for his attention to detail, Amorim has already forbidden his coaching staff from dispensing complex directions in an attempt to quickly instil his vision to the United players.

The former Sporting kingpin is of the belief that any idea that cannot be articulated in one sentence must be stripped back until it can be made clear.