Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho dropped from Manchester United squad by Ruben Amorim for derby
Marcus Rashford has been dropped by Manchester United for their derby clash with Manchester City. The Red Devils travel to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon for Ruben Amorim’s first derby as manager. Rashford is not in the United squad to face CityGetty However, Rashford will not be involved for the visitors after he was left out of the matchday squad. The winger has featured in each of United’s 15 Premier League matches so far this season, starting 12 of them. He also started Thursday’s Europa League clash with Viktoria Plzen. Rashford was replaced by goalscorer Rasmus Hojlund after 56 minutes in United’s comeback victory in Czechia. The 27-year-old has scored seven goals and provided three assists in 24 appearances so far this term. However, he has not scored in his last two league appearances, which saw United lose to Arsenal and Nottingham Forest. Alejandro Garnacho has also been left out of the 18-man matchday squad by Amorim. The Argentinian played nine minutes off the bench against Plzen and had appeared in each of United’s league matches so far this season. Garnacho has scored eight goals and added four assists from 24 appearances across all competitions. talkSPORT understands neither player is injured with Rashford and Garnacho both training this morning. GettyGarnacho is also absent from the matchday squad[/caption] Asked about his team selection, Amorim told Sky Sports: “We try to evaluate everything training performance, game performances, engagement with teammates, push their teammates up. “Everything is on the line when we analyse and try to choose the players. It is my selection. Simple. “I don’t want to send a message it is simply an evaluation and they know it. The players are really, really smart. Everybody understands my decision and I have to choose. It is simple selection. “Of course the context is difficult because we have to win games and we have a difficult situation now. I pay attention to everything, the way you eat, the way you put your clothes to go to a game. Everything. I make my evaluation and then I decide. “There is a communication after the last training. They are alright. They had training this morning and I was there. They trained really well.” Reacting to the news on Sky Sports, Roy Keane believes that a move could be good for both Rashford and the club. “It will be a big talking point because they’ve been involved in all the other games. He’s obviously seen something he didn’t like. “They would have had a clean slate since he came in and obviously doesn’t like what he sees. “He won’t just be looking at their on-field performances but their attitude in training, travelling and how they speak to staff. “To leave them out of the squad is a big call, but for us who have watched United recently it’s not that big of a surprise. Both players have been poor. He’s probably said enough is enough. “We will see how they react to this disappointment of being left out of a big game. It’s a big call from the manager. “I like to see it. It’s putting a marker down to the players.” You hope he’s disappointed. The derby will mean as much to a local player as anyone. “We’ve seen it coming, we’ve been talking about Marcus for the last year about his attitude and off-field stuff. He has some issues going on. “The other night when he came off and his body language on the bench. A new manager will pick up on this stuff. “He’s clearly not happy with it.” Rashford still has a Man United contract until 2028Getty On whether it will be the end, Keane added: “It might be an end to him. Let’s not write him off as he’s just not in the squad. It doesn’t look good for him. “There’s been talk over the last few months. I think a move for Marcus would suit the player. A new challenge for him as he’s been at the club for a long time. “He’s done well for the club, but over the last year or two, don’t worry about talent at a big club, if your attitude isn’t right and his certainly hasn’t been recently, then it’s good to part ways.” Meanwhile, Hojlund is one of four changes from midweek following his brace off the bench. Harry Maguire, Mason Mount and Manuel Ugarte also come into the side. The trio of Joshua Zirkzee, Casemiro and Tyrell Malacia make way as Amorim rotates his side to visit the champions. All three players have been named amongst the substitutes, though. A win for United will see them move above Tottenham and into 12th place, although Spurs are in action later in the day. The Red Devils have not beaten City in the league since January 2023, with their last win at the Etihad a further two years prior. However, United were victorious in the FA Cup final over their city rivals back in May. Man City: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Gvardiol, Gundogan, Silva, Doku, De Bruyne, Foden, Matheus Luiz, Haaland. Subs: Ortega, Stones, Kovacic, Grealish, Savio, Simpson-Pusey, O’Reilly
Marcus Rashford has been dropped by Manchester United for their derby clash with Manchester City.
The Red Devils travel to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon for Ruben Amorim’s first derby as manager.
However, Rashford will not be involved for the visitors after he was left out of the matchday squad.
The winger has featured in each of United’s 15 Premier League matches so far this season, starting 12 of them.
He also started Thursday’s Europa League clash with Viktoria Plzen.
Rashford was replaced by goalscorer Rasmus Hojlund after 56 minutes in United’s comeback victory in Czechia.
The 27-year-old has scored seven goals and provided three assists in 24 appearances so far this term.
However, he has not scored in his last two league appearances, which saw United lose to Arsenal and Nottingham Forest.
Alejandro Garnacho has also been left out of the 18-man matchday squad by Amorim.
The Argentinian played nine minutes off the bench against Plzen and had appeared in each of United’s league matches so far this season.
Garnacho has scored eight goals and added four assists from 24 appearances across all competitions.
talkSPORT understands neither player is injured with Rashford and Garnacho both training this morning.
Asked about his team selection, Amorim told Sky Sports: “We try to evaluate everything training performance, game performances, engagement with teammates, push their teammates up.
“Everything is on the line when we analyse and try to choose the players. It is my selection. Simple.
“I don’t want to send a message it is simply an evaluation and they know it. The players are really, really smart. Everybody understands my decision and I have to choose. It is simple selection.
“Of course the context is difficult because we have to win games and we have a difficult situation now. I pay attention to everything, the way you eat, the way you put your clothes to go to a game. Everything. I make my evaluation and then I decide.
“There is a communication after the last training. They are alright. They had training this morning and I was there. They trained really well.”
Reacting to the news on Sky Sports, Roy Keane believes that a move could be good for both Rashford and the club.
“It will be a big talking point because they’ve been involved in all the other games. He’s obviously seen something he didn’t like.
“They would have had a clean slate since he came in and obviously doesn’t like what he sees.
“He won’t just be looking at their on-field performances but their attitude in training, travelling and how they speak to staff.
“To leave them out of the squad is a big call, but for us who have watched United recently it’s not that big of a surprise. Both players have been poor. He’s probably said enough is enough.
“We will see how they react to this disappointment of being left out of a big game. It’s a big call from the manager.
“I like to see it. It’s putting a marker down to the players.”
You hope he’s disappointed. The derby will mean as much to a local player as anyone.
“We’ve seen it coming, we’ve been talking about Marcus for the last year about his attitude and off-field stuff. He has some issues going on.
“The other night when he came off and his body language on the bench. A new manager will pick up on this stuff.
“He’s clearly not happy with it.”
On whether it will be the end, Keane added: “It might be an end to him. Let’s not write him off as he’s just not in the squad. It doesn’t look good for him.
“There’s been talk over the last few months. I think a move for Marcus would suit the player. A new challenge for him as he’s been at the club for a long time.
“He’s done well for the club, but over the last year or two, don’t worry about talent at a big club, if your attitude isn’t right and his certainly hasn’t been recently, then it’s good to part ways.”
Meanwhile, Hojlund is one of four changes from midweek following his brace off the bench.
Harry Maguire, Mason Mount and Manuel Ugarte also come into the side.
The trio of Joshua Zirkzee, Casemiro and Tyrell Malacia make way as Amorim rotates his side to visit the champions.
All three players have been named amongst the substitutes, though.
A win for United will see them move above Tottenham and into 12th place, although Spurs are in action later in the day.
The Red Devils have not beaten City in the league since January 2023, with their last win at the Etihad a further two years prior.
However, United were victorious in the FA Cup final over their city rivals back in May.
Man City: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Gvardiol, Gundogan, Silva, Doku, De Bruyne, Foden, Matheus Luiz, Haaland.
Subs: Ortega, Stones, Kovacic, Grealish, Savio, Simpson-Pusey, O’Reilly, McAtee, Mubama.
Man Utd: Onana, de Ligt, Maguire, Martinez, Mazraoui, Ugarte, Fernandes, Dalot, Diallo, Hojlund, Mount.
Subs: Bayindir, Lindelof, Zirkzee, Malacia, Eriksen, Yoro, Casemiro, Antony, Mainoo.
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