Ruben Amorim explains why Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho were axed from Manchester United squad
Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho were dropped by Manchester United for their derby clash with Manchester City. The Red Devils travelled to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon for Ruben Amorim’s first derby as manager and came away with a 2-1 win. Rashford was not in the United squad to face CityGetty Rashford and Garnacho were not involved for the visitors after they was left out of the matchday squad. Rashford 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. Argentinian Garnacho 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. Manager Amorim confirmed that the pair were dropped for tactical reasons and not injury. Asked about his team selection, Amorim told Sky Sports before the game: “We try to evaluate everything training performance, game performances, engagement with teammates, push their teammates up. GettyGarnacho also watched the Manchester derby from home[/caption] “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.” Amorim later offered further clarification after the match and said he is keenly watching their actions. “When people in the club are losing their jobs, we have to push our standards really high,” Amorim said, appearing to refer to the spate of redundancies at Old Trafford. Amorim explained his reasons for dropping the pairGetty “Next week, next game, new life, they are fighting for their places but for me it’s important, the performance in training, the performance in game, the way you dress, the way you eat, the way you engage with teammates, the way you push your teammates, everything is important when we want to change a lot of things. “They have to fight for a place in the team and today the team proved we can leave anyone out of the squad and manage to win if you play together.” 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.” City had led through Josko Gvardiol’s 36th-minute header but rarely looked comfortable in the
Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho were dropped by Manchester United for their derby clash with Manchester City.
The Red Devils travelled to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon for Ruben Amorim’s first derby as manager and came away with a 2-1 win.
Rashford and Garnacho were not involved for the visitors after they was left out of the matchday squad.
Rashford 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.
Argentinian Garnacho 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.
Manager Amorim confirmed that the pair were dropped for tactical reasons and not injury.
Asked about his team selection, Amorim told Sky Sports before the game: “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.”
Amorim later offered further clarification after the match and said he is keenly watching their actions.
“When people in the club are losing their jobs, we have to push our standards really high,” Amorim said, appearing to refer to the spate of redundancies at Old Trafford.
“Next week, next game, new life, they are fighting for their places but for me it’s important, the performance in training, the performance in game, the way you dress, the way you eat, the way you engage with teammates, the way you push your teammates, everything is important when we want to change a lot of things.
“They have to fight for a place in the team and today the team proved we can leave anyone out of the squad and manage to win if you play together.”
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.”
City had led through Josko Gvardiol’s 36th-minute header but rarely looked comfortable in the game and it all unravelled in stunning fashion at the death.
Matheus Nunes, asked to fill in at left-back, was guilty of a poor back-pass and then fouled Amad Diallo trying to make amends to concede a penalty which Bruno Fernandes converted in the 88th minute, and two minutes later Diallo found space to latch on to a long ball and score the winner.
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