Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has explained why both Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho were left out of their squad for the Manchester derby against Man City.

Both Rashford and Garnacho were left out of the 20-man squad by Amorim. Both players scored goals in Amorim’s first games as manager and looked quite good in a flash.

But this decision is a big statement from Amorim and could mean a January exit for both, especially Rashford.

Ruben Amorim explains he dropped Rashford and Garnacho

Our UK partners at Sky Sports spoke to Ruben Amorim ahead of the derby and asked him why both Rashford and Garnacho were missing.

“Choice,” Amorim said. “We try to evaluate everything: training, performance, game performance, engagement with teammates, encouragement of teammates. When we analyze the players and try to select them, everything is at stake, so this is my selection. Simply. I don’t want to send a message. It’s simply a review, and they know it. The players are really, really smart. Everyone understands my decision. I have to decide. It’s just a simple selection.

“The context is difficult. We have to win games and we have a difficult situation. I pay attention to everything, the way you eat, the way you dress to play. Everything. I make my assessment and then I have to decide. I have a lot of players to choose from.”

When asked how he informed Rashford and Garnacho that they were not even in the squad, Amorim replied that it was via WhatsApp.

“It’s always the same. After the last training there is a message that goes to WhatsApp. They get the information,” Amorim said. “But they are fine. They had training this morning. I was there. Everything was fine. They trained really well.”