Ruben Amorim says he could not get his message across to Marcus Rashford, feeling that he was not grasping his ideas in the pitch or in training.
The relationship between Amorim and Rashford quickly fell apart after the Portuguese arrived as Red Devils boss and the England international was ousted from the first team.
Rashford last played for Manchester United on 12 December and after links with numerous clubs over the winter transfer window he made a loan switch to Aston Villa until the end of the season.
The 27-year-old will hope to get his career back on track under Unai Emery and may make his Villa debut this weekend against Tottenham in the FA Cup.
Amorim has wished Rashford the best with his new club, saying that Emery may be able to succeed where he could not in working with the forward.
‘What I say is I couldn’t get Marcus to see the way you’re supposed to play football and to train the way I see it,’ said Amorim. ‘Sometimes you have one player who is really good with one coach and the same player with another coach is different.
‘I just wish the best to Rashford and Unai Emery and hope they can connect, because he’s a very good player. Thankfully, Marcus is in Birmingham now with Unai, so you can take these questions to another coach. We’re just focused on our players.
‘Some of the guys don’t adapt to the way I see football, the other guys adapt, and we’re trying to build the team. It’s something you feel, as a coach and a player.
‘It’s quite normal, it happened with a lot of coaches. The important thing is that I’m here, saying it was my decision.’
Rashford hopes that his new manager is going to provide a better fit for him, talking up the chance of working with Emery at Villa Park.
‘It’s an ambitious time for this club and a great opportunity for me to join the team and help them keep pushing forward. I’m excited, can’t wait for the first training session and obviously the first game,’ Rashford said when he arrived at Aston Villa last week.
‘(Unai Emery is) a top manager and what he’s done at the club since he’s come to Villa is unbelievable.
‘It’s the constant ambition that’s attractive, and it’s why you want to join such a club. You want to keep improving year on year, and that’s what the team has been doing and are doing this year.
‘It’s a club that’s in a good position in the league, and they’re pushing to get higher. Still in the Champions League, a good, ambitious manager and great talent in the squad.
‘I’ve had to choose somewhere where I feel my style of football is suited to, and can help them and help me rediscover and improve as a player.
‘Obviously it’s only short-term I’m here, so I want to make the most of my time here, and the only way to do that is by using my attributes and my skillset to help the team.’