Amorim gives his views on the long-term future of Marcus Rashford and Antony, two players who are shining during their loan spell.
Rashford has been in fine form for Aston Villa, earning him a recall to the England squad under Thomas Tuchel. He finally scored his first goal for Villa after the international break, netting twice in a win over Preston that sent his side through to the FA Cup semi-finals.
Meanwhile, Antony has also impressed in Spain with Real Betis. The Brazilian has recorded four goals and four assists. His teammate Isco even joked that the club should crowdfund to extend his loan.
“I know Rashford very well. Everyone knows how much talent he has,” Amorim was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.
“I’ve said this before: he’s a world-class player when he wants to be. So I’m not surprised by his performances at Aston Villa,” Amorim added.
According to the Portuguese coach, the same situation also applies to Antony. He saw that the good performance of the loaned players showed positive developments for the club as a whole.
When asked if Rashford and Antony have a chance of returning to the first team, Amorim was reluctant to give a definite answer.
“Let’s focus on the current game. We are happy with the development of the players who are on loan. I am planning for the future, but I don’t want to talk about it now,” he said.
In addition to Rashford and Antony, the fate of Christian Eriksen, Jonny Evans and Tom Heaton whose contracts expire at the end of the season are also in question. Amorim responded diplomatically.
“We’ll see. We’re already thinking about next season, but there are still a lot of things to be done first,” he said.
He added that the Europa League could be a huge factor in bringing about change at the club.
We are not only focused on the future, but also on what is happening now,” he concluded.
Responding to Rumors of Bruno’s Departure, Amorim: “He Will Not Leave”
Bruno Fernandes has been a key player in Manchester United’s mini-revival under Amorim, scoring seven goals and providing three assists in his last seven games, leading to speculation of a possible summer move to Real Madrid.
However, Amorim firmly denied the rumors.
“That’s not going to happen,” he said ahead of the Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest.
When asked why he is so confident Fernandes will stay at Old Trafford, Amorim explained that big challenges still lie ahead. He stressed that Fernandes is still in top form.
“We want to win the Premier League again and we need the best players with us. He plays 55 games every season. Between goals and assists, he always contributes at least 30 times a season,” Amorim explained.
The United manager also insisted that the club are in full control of Bruno’s situation. According to him, Fernandes is a player who has a sense of belonging at Manchester United.
“Sometimes people see his frustration on the pitch and think it’s not good for a captain, but to me it shows how much he wants to win,” he explained.
Amorim also gave an update on the injury to Amad Diallo, who suffered an ankle ligament injury during a training session in February.
“I’m sure he will play again this season, but I don’t know exactly when. We’re very optimistic about his recovery,” he said.
