Ruben Amorim leaves Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho out of Manchester Derby

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim dropped forwards Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho for Sunday’s derby against Manchester City. United boss’s bold move comes amidst the team’s poor form in the Premier League.

United named Mason Mount and Amad Diallo in their starting XI on Sunday, against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City – who have had their worst form slump under the current manager.

Speaking ahead of the match, Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim said that he had spoken to both the players and had communicated with the players.

“We try to evaluate everything — training performance, game performances, engagement with team mates, push their team mates. Everything is on the line when we analyse and try to choose the players. It is my selection. Simple,” Amorim told Sky Sports before kick-off.

“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 on your clothes to go to a game. Everything. I make my evaluation and then I decide,” he further added.

Rashford and Garnacho had both trained on Sunday morning, said Amorim, who was there to watch.

Rashford has fallen short of rediscovering the form that saw him score 30 goals across all competitions in the 2022-23 season. While he has had three goals since Amorim took charge a month ago, he was taken off in the 56th minute of Thursday’s 2-1 Europa League victory over Viktoria Plzen, with club supporters booing the striker as he left the pitch.

Amorim said last month that he was keen to help Rashford rediscover his top form, but that the player had to “want it” first.

Rasmus Hojlund, who scored both of United’s goals on Thursday, and Amad Diallo were named the two forwards for Sunday’s Premier League derby at Etihad Stadium.

Rashford has been the subject of rumours of a move during January’s transfer window, with Bayern Munich, Marseille and Paris St-Germain among the teams reportedly interested.

Garnacho has got three league goals this season but has not scored since Amorim joined the club on Nov. 11.

Manchester United’s Starting XI

Onana, Maguire, De Ligt, Martinez, Mazraoui, Ugarte, Fernandes, Dalot, Mount, Amad, Hojlund

Subs: Bayindir, Lindelof, Malacia, Yoro, Casemiro, Eriksen, Mainoo, Antony, Zirkzee