Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has explained why he left Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho out of his squad for the Manchester derby, saying neither player is injured and it was a simple selection decision. 

“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,” Amorim told Sky Sports before the match against Man City.

“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 (Sunday) and I was there. They trained really well.”

Keane: Amorim’s put down a marker

Sky Sports pundit and former Man Utd midfielder Roy Keane said: “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’.”

“I like to see it – he has put down a marker.”

Dimitar Berbatov, ex-Man Utd striker, said: “Nobody expected it. There’s similarity with what [Erik] Ten Hag did with [Cristiano] Ronaldo. But Ronaldo was 36, these players are still in their prime.

“It doesn’t speak well about what they’re doing in training sessions. The new coach brings new methods, new ways of thinking, and they need to keep up with it.”

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Owen: It’s old school like Fergie

Michael Owen, also formerly of Man Utd, added: “My guess is it [leaving them out] would be more performance-related to start with. He wouldn’t have said it’s the way you dress, the way you look at games, the way you eat – almost questioning their professionalism. That won’t be the main reason, I’m pretty sure, that they’re not playing. 

“But I quite like it. I’m a little bit old school. I know someone who was very similar, and that’s Sir Alex Ferguson.”