Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim clarified his decision to omit Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho from the squad for Sunday’s Manchester derby, insisting there were no disciplinary issues involved.
Eyebrows were raised when both players were excluded from the matchday squad, but Amorim’s choices were vindicated as United secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Manchester City, courtesy of a late double.
Speaking after the match, Amorim emphasised that the decision was performance-based, explaining that Rashford and Garnacho trained at the club’s ground instead of joining the team at the Etihad.
The United boss stressed that high standards are essential as the club navigates significant changes, adding, “Today we proved we can leave anybody out and still win if we play together.”
Rashford had played 56 minutes in Thursday’s 2-1 Europa League victory against Viktoria Plzen, while Garnacho came on as a substitute. However, Amorim made it clear that squad places must be earned consistently.
When asked about potential team leaks, Amorim acknowledged the challenge but chose to downplay the issue. “It’s not a good thing, but it’s hard to control with so many people involved. Let’s move on.”
Amorim concluded on a forward-looking note: “Next week, new life, and they will fight for their places.”
