Ruben Amorim has fired a warning to any Manchester United player who does not meet his standards, claiming he “pays attention to everything” after Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho were omitted from his squad for the Manchester derby.
There had been rumours on Saturday night about Manchester United’s starting line-up against Manchester City being leaked well before the official publication.
The team that did the rounds on social media turned out to be spot on, with Garnacho and Rashford not in the starting XI.
Amorim is likely to be far from happy to learn his starting line-up was in the public domain a day before the game – but there is no suggestion that either Rashford or Garnacho were responsible for the leakage.
Ruben Amorim has said he ‘pays attention to everything’
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the game, Amorim said: “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 simple selection.
Pep Guardiola gives his pre-match thoughts ahead of the Manchester derby.
“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 (Sunday) and I was there. They trained really well.”
Keane: Rashford omission not a surprise
Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford were left out of the Manchester United squad to face Man City
Sky Sports’ Roy Keane said of Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford’s omissions: “It is a big call.
“He has obviously seen something he doesn’t like. But for those who have watched Manchester United recently, it’s not a big surprise because both players have been poor. He has said ‘Enough is enough’.”
“It’s a big call, but I like to see it – he has put down a marker. A move for Marcus [Rashford] would suit the player – a new challenge for him. He’s been there a long time. When you’re at a big club and your attitude is not right – and it hasn’t been great recently – sometimes it’s good to part ways.”
Micah Richards added: “It’s sad for a local boy in Rashford who is supposed to be the talisman for this team… to see the way his career has materialised over the last couple of years.
“We saw he had a couple of good seasons and thought now is the time for him to be the leader, and then now to not be involved in the derby you imagine he’s heartbroken.
“There’s a player in there but it can’t help that the manager is always changing. It’s a sad story for a player of that quality.”
Man City vs Man Utd starting line-ups
Man City: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Gvardiol, Gundogan, Silva, Doku, De Bruyne, Foden, Nunes, Haaland.
Subs: Ortega, Stones, Kovacic, Grealish, Savio, Simpson-Pusey, O’Reilly, McAtee, Mubama.
Man Utd: Onana, De Ligt, Maguire, Martinez, Mazraoui, Ugarte, Fernandes, Dalot, Diallo, Hojlund, Mount.
Subs: Bayindir, Lindelof, Zirkzee, Malacia, Eriksen, Yoro, Casemiro, Antony, Mainoo.
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)
