Rashford and Garnacho EXCLUDED for Manchester derby

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 15 Dec 2024 15:49 GMT
• 4 min read

Breaking

Ruben Amorim has omitted Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United’s matchday squad to face Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.

The Red Devils pair have started 22 Premier League matches between them so far this season, however they have been excluded from Man Utd’s squad in Amorim’s first taste of a Manchester derby.

Rashford scored three goals in his first two league appearances under Amorim, but he was named on the substitutes bench against both Arsenal and Nottingham Forest, and he has now been dropped entirely amid rumours he could be sold in 2025.

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Meanwhile, Garnacho has eight goals and four assists across all competitions so far this campaign, and he has been dropped despite starting three of Man Utd’s last four Premier League games.

When asked why the pair weren’t included in his matchday squad, Amorim told Sky Sports: “We try to evaluate everything. Training performance, game performances, engagement with team-mates, push their team-mates 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 a simple selection.

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“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 on to go to a game. Everything. I make my evaluation and then I decide.

“There is communication after the last training. They are alright. They had training this morning and I was there. They trained really well.”

What have Man Utd fans said?