Ruben Amorim says everyone at Manchester United has "a new challenge" and has urged all of his players to be ready for it.
His comments came as a response to Marcus Rashford's interview with journalist Henry Winter earlier this week, in which the forward said, "I think I'm ready for a new challenge" and "When I leave, it's going to be 'no hard feelings.'"
When asked for his reaction, Amorim deftly turned Rashford's comments into an opportunity to talk about the club's objectives, stating that all of his players have an opportunity to embrace something new under his management at Old Trafford.
"I think he's right," said the head coach ahead of Thursday's EFL Cup quarter-final at Tottenham Hotspur. "We have here a new challenge and it's a tough one. It's the biggest challenge in football because we are in a difficult situation. This is really a new challenge. I hope all my players are ready for this new challenge."
'I just want to help Marcus'
Amorim was asked to talk more specifically about the future of Rashford, who was omitted from the squad for Sunday's derby win for "selection reasons", along with Alejandro Garnacho.
When asked if he had spoken to Rashford since the interview emerged, Amorim replied: "No, I gave a day off to the lads. But he's our player and he's ready for the next game.
"This kind of club needs big talent and he is a big talent so we just need him to perform at the highest level and that is my focus. I just want to help Marcus.
"I just want to win and to help the team be better, so we are better with Marcus Rashford, and that's simple.
"We try different things to push Marcus to be at his best level that he's shown in the past."
Rashford has been a key player for Man Utd since breaking through from the club's academy to make his senior debut in February 2016. He has made 426 appearances in all competitions so far, scoring 138 goals.
This season, the forward has netted seven goals in 24 matches, including the first strike under Amorim's management - Man Utd's opener in their 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town last month.
'Disheartening to be left out'
In his interview with Winter, Rashford admitted it was "disheartening to be left out of a derby" before adding, "It's happened, we won the game so let's move on.
"It's disappointing, but as I've got older, I can deal with setbacks. What am I going to do about it? Sit there and cry about it? Or do my best the next time I'm available?"
Rashford said that if he were to leave Man Utd, he would aim to do so on good terms.
"If I know that a situation is already bad, I'm not going to make it worse," he said. "I've seen how other players have left in the past and I don't want to be that person.
"When I leave, I will make a statement, and it will be from me. When I leave, it is going to be 'no hard feelings'. You are not going to have any negative comments from me about Manchester United - that's me as a person.
"I'm ready for a new challenge and the next steps."
Man Utd visit Spurs at 20:00 GMT on Thursday night in the last of this week's EFL Cup fixtures, before hosting AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.