Gary Neville Hits Back at Marcus Rashford as He Defends Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United Project

Manchester United legend Gary Neville has clapped back at Marcus Rashford after the forward criticised his former club’s lack of a long-term plan. Neville instead backed current manager Ruben Amorim, insisting the Portuguese boss deserves time and support to rebuild the club.

Rashford, who left Old Trafford this summer to join Barcelona on loan, hasn’t stayed quiet since his move. Speaking on The Rest is Football Podcast last week, the 27-year-old slammed United for failing to stick to any clear strategy.

“To start a transition you have to make a plan and stick to it,” Rashford said. “We’ve had so many managers, different ideas and different strategies that you just end up in no man’s land.”

The England international’s words hit a nerve with many fans, as United have endured years of inconsistency since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement. But Neville was quick to dismiss Rashford’s comments when asked about them on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football.

Holding up his hand, Neville said bluntly:

“Let’s ignore that, because I don’t want to go into Marcus Rashford’s comments tonight. He was at the club for 10 years and had his opportunity to impact the club. Ruben Amorim, this year, I think will do a good job. Marcus should concentrate on Barcelona.”

Neville’s Defence of Amorim

Neville went on to explain why he believes Amorim is the right man to turn United’s fortunes around. Although United opened their Premier League campaign with a 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal, Neville saw positives in the team’s set-up and style.

“Yesterday was the first time I watched that formation at Old Trafford and thought, ‘right, we’ve got a chance here – that worked,’” Neville said.

The former United captain pointed to Amorim’s tweaks that brought more balance to the side. He highlighted Mason Mount’s return to the midfield, Luke Shaw’s positioning as a left-sided centre-back, and Matheus Cunha’s energy in attack.

“When you saw Cunha play, saw Mount play, saw Shaw at left centre-back – there was a balance! Casemiro looked a better player all of a sudden. Just straight away, he looked more comfortable,” Neville explained.

Rashford’s Harsh Words

Rashford’s frustration, however, comes from years of decline and missed opportunities at Old Trafford. Despite being one of the club’s brightest academy graduates, the forward believes United have been stuck in a cycle of constant change without real direction.

He argued that the club has leaned too heavily on “transition” as an excuse for underperformance. “We’ve had so many different managers and ideas that it leaves you with no clear identity,” he said.

His comments stirred debate among pundits and fans alike, with some agreeing that United’s leadership has failed to provide consistency, while others felt Rashford should be more focused on his fresh start at Barcelona.

Amorim’s Challenge

Ruben Amorim now finds himself at the heart of this debate. The Portuguese coach was brought in to steady United after their dismal 15th-place finish last season – the worst in the club’s Premier League history.

Amorim has already reshaped parts of the squad with new arrivals like Benjamin Šeško, Bryan Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha. His task is not just to win games, but to instill a clear tactical philosophy and long-term vision.