Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim declined to comment on Marcus Rashford’s ongoing absence from the team following the club’s third consecutive defeat in a week on Boxing Day.

Rashford has not played since the Europa League victory over Viktoria Plzen, after revealing in a revealing interview that he is “ready for a new challenge.” Since then, the forward has missed four matches, with three of those ending in losses for United.

With the team struggling, questions about Rashford’s exclusion became inevitable, but Amorim remained tight-lipped.

When asked about the situation, he replied, “It’s always the same reason it’s going to be. We have to be the same professionals, the same guys, winning or losing. Losing, I have to be stronger. I will continue with my idea until the end.”

Amorim then added, “If he’s not here, you can make your mind up.”

Rashford’s absence has been a hot topic since his interview surfaced earlier this month. While Amorim might see turning the team’s results around as the best way to quell the speculation, it’s also clear he wants to set a clear stance early in his tenure.

As former Manchester United defender Wes Brown pointed out, Rashford’s lackluster form this season, with only four goals in 15 Premier League matches, makes it harder for him to regain a place in the side, especially with players like Amad Diallo impressing under the new manager.

Ben Foster, who has played for United, West Brom, Watford, and Birmingham in the Premier League, criticized Marcus Rashford, suggesting that even his transfer fee might still be too high.

Speaking on his Cycling GK podcast, Foster said, “Marcus Rashford… there are so many people who say ‘on his day, on his day.’ His day comes once every 10 games. Honestly, it’s once every 10 games, and you can’t afford to have a luxury player in the modern game who only delivers one good performance out of 10. It’s as simple as that.”