Image source, Getty ImagesIf Manchester United fail to beat Bournemouth, it will be the first time they have been in the bottom half of the table at Christmas since 1989-90 (12th).
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Bournemouth (kick-off 14:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Amorim said Marcus Rashford is available for Sunday's game, but "it is the same thing [that has seen him left out in consecutive games]."
Midfielder Mason Mount has seen a specialist and will be sidelined for "several weeks." Amorim added: "I don't know the exact date, but it is going to be long. It is part of football and we continue."
On Mount being injury-prone and solving it: "That is not my department. What I can do is teach him to play our game while he is recovering and to give him that time to think about different things."
He said the schedule does not help players who are coming back from injuries as there is no time to train and "it makes it hard to recover for the games".
Amorim said the pile up of games had a similar impact on Victor Lindelof, who was forced off against Tottenham on Thursday. The United boss added: "He was training well, recovering as he should do before a game but the game is a completely different world so they need more time to train."
On what is going well and not so well so far: "I think we are improving near the opponent's box. We have had some games where we were without real threat but we can shoot, we are near the goal and you really feel it. It is a good thing in our team."
He said his team are "faster, pressing more and both the physicality and the understanding of the game is improving."
On Antony: "He needs more confidence. He is working hard and he is trying. I will help him to be a better player."
In response to what will help him and his players: "Training. That's simple. We are rotating players and when you rotate players then it is hard to work on every connection. If you always have a different guy next to you in that position, then it is hard to work with them. If we have more time, we will use it to train the team. That's all."
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Image source, PA MediaFrench football journalist Julien Laurens, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Euro Leagues podcast about Marcus Rashford and whether Paris St-Germain would be a realistic transfer destination for the Manchester United forward if he were to leave in January:
"I don't think so. There was contact before when Kylian Mbappe was at the club. Rashford and Mbappe are quite close. His brother, who is also his agent, travelled to Paris and met Nasser Al-Khelaifi and all the big people at the club.
"I think at the time it was maybe more to almost force the hand of Manchester United to give him a new deal, which they did eventually. But it was never going to happen back then to start with.
"Right now, especially if they let Randal Kolo Muani go, it's true that PSG would maybe get another forward.
"I just don't think that Marcus Rashford, right now, ticks the boxes that Luis Campos and Luis Enrique want."
Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked for your thoughts after Thursday's Carabao Cup quarter-final between Tottenham and Manchester United.
Here are some of your comments:
Spurs fans
Larry: Kamikaze football yet again. We can't keep playing this style of play when holding commanding leads in games. I know we have injuries to key players, and expecting young players to step up, but we have to learn to better manage a decent lead.
Doug: We were outstanding for the first 63 minutes, then two ridiculous pieces of goalkeeping let Man Utd back in it. Spurs were by far the best side then went to pieces after the goalkeeping errors and gave the ball away cheaply. A deserved win in the end but plenty for Ange Postecoglou to work on. Falling to pieces like that isn't acceptable.
Steve: Sometimes the result is all that matters. Both teams did their best to throw it away, Spurs just weren't as good as United at it!
Man Utd fans
Des: I understand Ruben Amorim's desire to rotate and give the whole squad a chance to impress but the starting XI was guaranteed to lose. How did Antony justify selection? Even an out-of-sorts and out-of-position Marcus Rashford would've been more productive.
Robert: Clear pattern of play and performances generally are getting there. Cut out individual errors and United will be a proper force. The referee's abysmal performance, aided by some poor individual mistakes cost us.
Ellie: Some sloppy defending and United benefited from quite comical errors from the Spurs keeper but even this loss shows some progress as against the Erik ten Hag era. Under Ten Hag we would have crumbled and lost our heads as soon as we went one down, never mind three. We are a better organised, more dynamic and more motivated team now than we were under Ten Hag.
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester United journalist James Young believes "there is far more of an identity" to the Red Devils under Ruben Amorim than there was under Erik ten Hag despite the Carabao Cup defeat by Tottenham on Thursday.
Having been 3-0 down at Spurs, United pulled back to within one thanks to errors by home keeper Fraser Forster before ultimately bowing out of a chaotic match with a 4-3 defeat.
Nevertheless, Young told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast the comeback showed Amorim has lit a fire in his players during his short time at the club.
"I think those 6,000 United fans who travelled down to London on a Thursday night right before Christmas who are getting back late will have seen a lot in that side," Young said. "Especially players like Amad Diallo going and chasing down the goalkeeper - we had not seen that from United for a long time under Erik ten Hag.
"There are inconsistencies in that squad, even within the same game, but I think this game came down to Spurs having a slightly better attacking threat. The problem for United is the likes of Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have not quite delivered in the same way they were expected to.
"It will take time for Amorim to get his feet properly under the desk and put his plan in place. Let's not forget these are not his players and he will need transfer windows. I don't think he knows his best team but when players come back form injury, it will help him figure out how he wants to play.
"It is getting there. There is far more of an identity with this United squad than what we saw under Ten Hag."
Manchester United have scouted Atalanta's Ederson, 25, with the Brazilian central midfielder one of the few players the club are giving serious consideration to at that position. (Florian Plettenberg), external
Southampton could sell academy graduate Tyler Dibling, 18, if they are relegated from the Premier League, with Manchester United and Newcastle both interested in the English midfielder. (Football Insider), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column
Image source, PA MediaManchester United boss Ruben Amorim, speaking to Sky Sports after Thursday's Carabao Cup loss to Tottenham:
"We disconnected at the beginning of the second half, that was a tough moment. If you look at all of the game, we were the best team but they were more clinical. We lost but the fight from the lads was really important for me.
"We were comfortable and dominated possession. It was not the last pass but the last shot [that was the problem]."
On what he has learned from the match: "I will think about that tomorrow, tonight I don't feel anything. There is nothing I can say to you about what is good. Tomorrow I can say a lot of things. Tonight we lost and then we have to take a night to think and then tomorrow we will have a lot of good things from this game.
"We cannot think in that way that winning silverware makes everything OK. It will be a long way, we are improving, our goal is to win the Premier League, how long it will take I don't know."
Asked if it is best for both parties if Marcus Rashford leaves the club in January: "Tomorrow we have training, he will be there preparing for the next game. He is a United player, everyone has a future at Manchester United."
Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?
Have your say on Tottenham's performance
What did you make of Man Utd's display?
Come back to this page on Friday to find a selection of your replies
Image source, Getty ImagesBBC Radio Manchester's Gaz Drinkwater spoke to the Devils' advocate podcast about Manchester United's trip to Tottenham in the EFL Cup on Thursday: "We know that they are going to play the way they play with a really high line. They will try and throw everything at United, but they have been somewhat solid defensively under Ruben Amorim.
"They are going to be more open than a lot of teams we have played against recently. Ange [Postecoglou] is on the edge, so they might win.
Radio Manchester's Joe McGrath added: "I want three wins from four games between now and the end of the year- Tottenham, Bournemouth on Sunday and Newcastle. Wolves [on boxing day] might be tricky because they will have a new manager bounce."
Listen to the full episode here
Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has ploughed another $100m (£79.43m) into the Old Trafford club.
The payment had to be made by 31 December under the terms of the agreement between Ratcliffe and the Glazer family that was announced earlier this year.
It was confirmed by a filing United made to the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday morning and takes Ratcliffe's stake in United to 28.94%.
The money will be used for infrastructure projects and is not available for transfers.
In addition, it was revealed the ownership was being transferred from Ratcliffe to his company INEOS in line with his other sporting enterprises.
Christmas Eve will mark 12 months since Ratcliffe and the Glazer family agreed their deal, since when the boyhood United fan has transformed the structures within the club, bringing in former Manchester City chief football operations officer Omar Berrada as chief executive and Southampton technical director Jason Wilcox in a similar role.
However, the transition has not been straightforward. Erik ten Hag was initially retained as manager following United's FA Cup final victory against Manchester City, then ditched after 10 Premier League games. And, after spending five months on gardening leave while compensation was agreed with Newcastle, Dan Ashworth was dumped as sporting director after just five months at Old Trafford.
In addition, 250 staff members have been made redundant, while other perks for ordinary staff members have been slashed as Ratcliffe cuts cost with the aim of being able to invest more in the first-team.
Discussions over a new stadium will continue until the middle of 2025, although work on massive improvements to United's Carrington training ground have been started.
Image source, Getty ImagesMarcus Rashford is 27 years old now and I have heard people argue that, at his age, he is not going to change.
I'm not sure he needs to, but I would definitely describe him as someone who is firmly attached to this Manchester United era.
By that, I mean his time in the United first team has been very different to most of the young players who came through the ranks there in the years before him.
The 'Class of 92' is always seen as the modern-day marker in that respect, but more recently Jonny Evans, Danny Welbeck and Darren Fletcher all came through the ranks to break into successful Manchester United teams and win Premier League titles.
It was a lot easier for them. Rashford's era has been very different.
He has still won trophies but, since his debut in 2016, United have never come close to being champions. They have been far too inconsistent for that but, good or bad, he has always been one of the big talking points of this team - as he is now.
What happens next is going to be very interesting. Ruben Amorim has said this situation is not down to discipline, but this is the first time Rashford's day-to-day character has been actively discussed by his manager, rather than by fans or the media.
So this is different - and it is why we are at the stage where Rashford is speaking openly about a "new challenge" - but he doesn't have to leave Old Trafford for that.
If he is going to move on, it would have to be a deal that suits everyone - his fee, from the club's point of view, plus his wages and where he wants to play.
I think there is still only really one answer to that last question - and surely Manchester United fans would agree with me. He is a Red at heart.
He has been at his boyhood club since he was seven years old - and his utopia is to be playing every week for Manchester United, winning trophies and taking them back to where he feels they should be.
Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan
Image source, Getty ImagesMarcus Rashford would be taking "the easy way out" if he was to leave Manchester United, says former England winger Chris Waddle.
The United forward said on he is "ready for a new challenge" after being asked about his future at the club.
Rashford has struggled to find consistent form over the past 18 months and was dropped from the squad for Sunday's derby which United won 2-1 against Manchester City.
The 27-year-old has been linked with moves to European giants Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.
"We know he's a talented footballer," Waddle told BBC Radio 5 Live. "He's been playing a lot of football over the years for arguably the biggest football club in the world, so if you want a challenge – do you not want to put Manchester United back on the map? There's no bigger club than United in my eyes globally.
"Just because you've got that talent, it's what is upstairs. Why would somebody splash out £100m for somebody who you don't know what you're going to get? And if you upset them a bit, you're stuck with a player on a big contract worth a fortune.
"He's got a challenge in front of him where he could roll his sleeves up and say: 'I'm becoming a United legend here - I want to get this club back to where they should be'. That's the challenge, not 'I want another challenge'. That's the easy way out.
"With his ability, he should be winning games for Man Utd nearly every week. He should be unplayable.
"You've got a new manager who's trying to get a bit of rhythm going – after a great win at Manchester City for them. He should be thinking 'I want to be part of this, I can see something happen here and I want to get in that team'.
"I wouldn't pick a player who's not in the right frame of mind."
Atletico Madrid could make a loan move for Manchester United's 27-year-old forward Marcus Rashford, who has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford. (TBR Football), external
Clubs in Saudi Arabia are also interested in Rashford and believe he is the right player to boost the league's global profile. (Telegraph), external
Rashford has been left out of Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim's squad to face Tottenham in their Carabao Cup quarter-final on Thursday. (Mail), external
Manchester United remain interested in 22-year-old Portugal left-back Nuno Mendes, but Paris St-Germain want to extend his current deal beyond 2026. (Florian Plettenberg/Sky Germany), external
Finally, Inter Milan and Italy defender Federico Dimarco will reject any approach from United, in favour of staying with the Serie A champions. (Tuttosport via Goal), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column
Image source, Getty ImagesIt is one thing to say you want to try something new - but it is another thing to know where somewhere new is going to be.
Marcus Rashford needs to find where that new position would be.I am not 100% sold that his Manchester United career is coming to an end just yet.
He has said what he has said. In terms of timing, it will be tough for him because he has said that after being left out of a Manchester derby.
There will be some people who interpret it as he just wants to leave but maybe he does not. This is his club. This is the place where he has come through the academy, done really well overall and had so many big moments.
It is very familiar for him.
So to say he wants a new challenge - maybe, but where is that going to be? Who knows.
Will United actually want to sell him? Who knows.
I do not know if it is the natural conclusion to his time at United as such. It has the potential to be, but there is no guarantee.
Ruben Amorim seems like someone who is very much there to give feedback. I do not think Rashford would have been left out of the squad and not know the reasons why. That is part of a culture of fairness as well.
You can disagree with a manager but if they explain why they are doing what they are doing then the ball is in your court.
Nine times out of 10 what a manager sees is quite accurate.
With both Rashford and Alejandro Garancho, Amorim made the point that they are not frozen out and it was just for last weekend.
Let's see what happens next.
Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Nat Hayward
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked for your views on Marcus Rashford's future at Old Trafford. Would it be a mistake to let the homegrown talent leave the club? Should he fight for his position in the team, go out on loan or leave permanently?
Here are some of your comments:
Yusuf: It is time for Rashford to go. He has been at the club for so long but he is ready to give the iconic moments he had with us in the past to a new club with fresh ideas. He is now losing the touch he had during 2022-23, which was one of his best seasons. I still think he can try to earn his place during December, but I feel this could be the end between United and Rashford.
Simon: He looks like he has lost all of his hunger and desire to be a top player. He didn't push on when he got his big new contract, like a world-class player would. He seems more more interested in how he looks to the world. It is a real shame. You can tell he has given up.
Chris: The idea of Rashford leaving makes me sad, as I think it would for most United supporters. Seeing him succeed in a United shirt is fantastic, but he has become a player who attracts headlines for the wrong reasons and I think he needs a fresh start elsewhere. It will not be nice to see him go - however, if we get a decent fee, it is a genuine win-win for the club and the player.
Michael: His work-rate recently has not matched his potential. If he was an 'ordinary' worker instead of a highly paid football star, it would be said he has lost interest in his job - and it shows.
Vaughan: Time for Marcus to move on, I'm afraid. The lack of interest and work-rate is unforgivable in a United shirt. It seems he is more interested in living the superstar lifestyle at the expense of his football. It is such a waste of his great talent.
Alan: Has anyone sat down with the player and really tried to establish what is behind the drop in both his performances and enthusiasm? Only by looking at all aspects will the problems and, more importantly, the solutions be identified.
Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter
Image source, Getty ImagesEighty-seven minutes in and I was convinced I would write about the much anticipated Manchester derby without using the word drama - the match did not deserve it.
It was the dullest Premier League game of the weekend then it contrived to steal all the headlines via the one class act on show: Amad Diallo.
United fans might feel this is a turning point but, in reality, boss Ruben Amorim was right, it is just one game even if those late goals tasted oh so sweet in the moment. They still do not look to have the energy needed to be a top-four side, however giddy they felt leaving the Etihad.
Amorim has to look to youth as he goes forward. It helps having Diallo and Kobbie Mainoo in situ but many more are needed from outside the club.
Diallo's type of energy, along with his ability and passion, is needed at Old Trafford if they are going to get back to the top any time soon.
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