Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim provided mixed messages regarding the decision to leave Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho out of the squad for Sunday’s Manchester derby, insisting that the exclusion was not related to disciplinary issues.
The omission of both forwards raised eyebrows ahead of the Premier League match against Manchester City, especially as United pulled off a 2-1 victory with a late double. Rashford had played 56 minutes in Thursday’s 2-1 Europa League win against Viktoria Plzen, while Garnacho had been a late substitute in the same match. Instead of being part of the squad for the derby, both players were seen training at the club’s training ground on Sunday morning.
When questioned after the match, Amorim firmly stated that the decision was not due to any disciplinary problems. However, he emphasized the importance of high standards at the club and how players need to meet those expectations. Amorim stressed that factors such as training performance, behavior, and engagement with teammates are all critical for earning a place in the team.
“Next week, next game, new life, and they are fighting for the places,” he said. “What is important is the performance in training, the performance in game, the way you dress, the way you eat, the way you engage with teammates and push teammates.”
Amorim also mentioned that he would have been transparent if there had been any disciplinary issues, adding that such matters would have been handled differently. He made it clear that the decision to leave players out was based on performance and that everyone, including veteran players like Jonny Evans, had to meet the required standards.
Regarding the rumors about team leaks, Amorim acknowledged the issue but stated that it is difficult to pinpoint the source due to the many channels through which information can spread. He declined to link Garnacho’s absence to any such allegations, stating that leaks are a common issue in modern football.
“Let’s move on to the next one and see who will make the next starting XI,” Amorim concluded.
