Both Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho have been left out of the Manchester United squad for their Premier League clash with Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.
Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim named a front three of Amad Diallo, Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount, with no place even on the bench for Rashford or Garnacho.
The Manchester Evening News reported that the team news leaked on Saturday and both the omittedforwards trained on Sunday morning.
Amorim says that the bold decision was made based on a string of factors and the pair ‘trained really well’ despite the disappointing news.
‘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,’ the Manchester United manager told Sky Sports.
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‘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.’
He added after a dramatic 2-1 win for his side of the surprise team selection: ‘Nothing special. Finish one game, start a new week. New week, new life, if they train well they will compete for a place in the team. They are playing because they are talented, we need Rashford and Garnacho.
‘Next week if they train well like the others. It’s the same for everyone. They will play or be on the bench. It was not a disciplinary thing. We have to improve out standards inside and outside the pitch. It was a normal week.’
Manchester United legend Roy Keane told Sky Sports of Amorim’s decision before the match: ‘He’s obviously seen something he doesn’t like. Their on field performances, but he’s on about looking at their attitudes in terms of training, travelling, the way they speak to staff, work rate etc.
‘To leave them out of the squad is a big call but for those of us who watch United regularly its not that big a surprise because both players have been poor.’
Rashford started in the Europa League win at Viktoria Plzen on Thursday but was substituted after 56 minutes and did not acknowledge his manager as he left the field.
Ex-Premier League striker Deeney has questioned whether Rashford can revive his Manchester United career and believes Amorim, appointed just last month, is already growing frustrated with the forward.
‘Marcus Rashford looks like he is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders,’ Deeney wrote in a column for The Sun. ‘Everything is always everybody else’s fault and his application stinks.
‘He is still capable of moments. It wouldn’t surprise me if he goes and scores the winner against Manchester City this weekend and then goes missing for the next few weeks.
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‘He knows he can live off these “moments” and nothing more, and that isn’t good enough. It is the same old cycle.
‘A new manager comes in and for three of four games you see a “new Rashford” and then he slips back into his old ways and old form.
‘He then begins to get dropped. We saw it on Thursday night, subbed off against Viktoria Plzen and already United boss Ruben Amorim looks fed up with him.’
Rashford has scored four Premier League goals this season, in 15 appearances, also netting twice in the Carabao Cup and once more in six Europa League appearances.
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