Ruben Amorim’s side left late to claim a shock 2-1 victory over Manchester City at the Etihad, but the party atmosphere was somewhat dampened by an apparent leak in the dressing room.
Surprisingly, both Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford were left out of the squad to face the Red Devils’ arch-nemesis, with some, including Gary Neville, praising the head coach’s call-up.
Rashford watched from home and has since broken his silence on his Instagram page, while Garnacho, the club’s top scorer in all competitions, has remained silent on his social media about his exclusion.
The surprise news appeared to have leaked on Saturday night, the night before the game, but was not confirmed until Amorim’s official team sheet was released before kick-off on Sunday afternoon.
According to a report from Manchester Evening NewsClub sources clarified that Garnacho’s omission had no relation to the insinuations that his brother had been responsible for the equipment leak.
Another report from Metroclaimed that Garnacho’s brother had denied accusations on social media that he was the source of several leaks ahead of last week’s final matches.
Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho were ruled out for the Manchester derby
Garnacho is United’s top scorer in all competitions so far this season with eight goals
The Red Devils recorded an impressive 2-1 victory over Manchester City on Sunday night.
However, the fact that information of utmost importance to the team’s preparations for the derby can leave the dressing room is probably a serious offence, although he admitted it is “impossible” to avoid.
“I know that story,” Amorim said after the 2-1 victory on the club’s official website. “I don’t know, I think that nowadays it is impossible to fix it because there are a lot of people in the club, the players talk to agents.”
‘I don’t know, you can talk to friends, so it’s hard to know. “It’s not a good thing, but let’s move on and move on to the next one and see if they find the next starting XI.”
Amorim’s decision was finally vindicated, and the Red Devils secured a vital late victory over their bitter rivals.
The new Portuguese coach made it clear that standards must be met and that any player who falls below them will not be tolerated.
Amorim was therefore quick to stress that none of the players were injured before the match, indicating instead that they are simply part of the competition for places.
‘It’s important to say why. “It wasn’t a disciplinary issue: next week, the next game, a new life,” he explained.
They are fighting for places, but for me what is important is performance in training, performance in the game, the way you dress, the way you eat, the way you relate to your teammates, the way you drive your team. . companions.
Rubén Amorim sent a message to the ‘leak’ in his locker room after the 2-1 victory
Amorim insisted that neither player was injured but both were competing for places.
Amad Diallo scored a dramatic late goal to seal United’s three points over their rivals.
‘Everything is important in our context at the beginning of changing many things, when people in our club are losing their jobs, we have to set the standards very high.
“For that they have to fight for a place in the team and today the team showed that we can leave anyone out of the team.” You can win if we play together.’
Rashford, the £325,000-a-week United striker, has struggled to replicate the heights he reached in the 2022-23 campaign, when he scored 30 times in all competitions.
Indeed, Mail Sport revealed last week that the club would be willing to listen to offers of around £40m for their academy product in January.
Instead, Mason Mount was named in the starting lineup, although his match lasted only 13 minutes.
The English attacking midfielder went down injured early in the first half and the distraught star had to be substituted.