Ruben Amorim has urged a raising in the standards set by Manchester United as he responded to the criticism of Marcus Rashford and Casemiro’s recent trips during the international break.
The Red Devils duo both headed to the United States for holidays during their respective days off last week, with Rashford seen attending an NBA game in New York and Casemiro posting pictures on social media with his family at Disney World in Florida.
Those journeys were criticised publicly by United legend Gary Neville, who questioned their professionalism and decision-making.
Neville had the chance to question Ruben Amorim about that very subject as he interviewed the new United boss for Sky Sports on Friday, ahead of the Portuguese’s first match in charge this weekend in the Premier League against Ipswich at Portman Road.
"The first thing is it was five days off. The second thing is they received information of 'five days off' and they are big boys, they have kids so they decide what to do," said Amorim.
"I think the main question here is the club have to set the standards and have to manage that. It's my decision if they can have five days as a coach, or three days. Or is three days to rest, you cannot fly. This is something the club has to decide.
"But you cannot put this on the players. They told them they have five days off so they can fly anywhere. Nobody in the club said they cannot fly.
"They have to live their lives because they are grown men and they have to decide these things. Us as a club have to change in these standards."
Amorim specifically addressed Neville saying that he would not have made the same decision as Rashford and Casemiro during his time as a player at United during their glory years under Sir Alex Ferguson.
"For me the difference is in your time you had a great leadership at the time, very, very strong and the culture was already here when you start," he said.
"So it was a long time with the same identity, the same way of seeing things and you felt that even if you do that, your team-mates will talk to you.
"Now it's a different point, you have to acknowledge that. This must be started in the club, with us.
"We are responsible in that area. We cannot in this time put that on Rash or Case. They receive the information 'five days off', do what you like'. We as a club have to set better standards and we will try to do that.”
