Ruben Amorim has shed light on his decision to omit Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United’s squad for their derby clash against Manchester City, revealing that the move was influenced by factors beyond just footballing performance.
The absence of Rashford and Garnacho from the lineup for the match at the Etihad came as a surprise, especially as both had featured in United’s Europa League win over Viktoria Plzen just days earlier. Amorim clarified that neither player is dealing with an injury, noting that both trained at Carrington on Sunday morning while the rest of the squad prepared for the derby.
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the Premier League encounter, where his side aimed to avoid a third consecutive league defeat, Amorim explained that the decision was based on a comprehensive evaluation process, which also included off-field considerations.
“Selection is about evaluating everything,” Amorim said. “We look at training, performance in games, engagement with teammates, and their ability to elevate the team. Everything counts when we analyze and choose the players, so this is my selection. Simple as that.
“It’s not about sending a message. It’s purely evaluation, and the players are smart enough to understand that. The context is challenging—we need to win games, and the situation is difficult. I consider everything: how players eat, how they dress for games, everything. It’s part of my decision-making process, and I have many players to choose from.”
Rashford, 27, and Garnacho, 20, were key players in United’s FA Cup final win against City last season and were regulars under previous manager Erik ten Hag. However, Amorim’s tactical approach differs from his predecessor’s, and for his first Manchester derby, the Portuguese coach opted for a front three of Rasmus Højlund, Mason Mount, and Amad Diallo.
In midfield, Bruno Fernandes partnered Manuel Ugarte, while Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui took up wing-back roles. Amorim also deployed a back-three of Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt, and Lisandro Martínez, with André Onana in goal.
The bench featured attacking options such as Joshua Zirkzee and Antony, alongside midfielders Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo, as Amorim looked to make bold decisions to adapt to the team’s pressing challenges.
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