Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim addressed the surprise omissions of Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho from the squad for Sunday’s Manchester derby, insisting there were no disciplinary reasons behind the decision.

Fans were left puzzled when neither forward was included in the 20-man roster for the high-stakes clash against Manchester City. However, Amorim’s gamble paid off as United secured a dramatic 2-1 victory thanks to two late goals. Rashford had featured for 56 minutes in United’s 2-1 Europa League comeback win over Viktoria Plzen on Thursday, while Garnacho was introduced as a late substitute in that game.

Rather than joining their teammates at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, both players trained separately at United’s Carrington base during the match.

Speaking after the derby victory, Amorim dismissed speculation of disciplinary actions but hinted at the high standards he demands from his players at Old Trafford.

“It’s not a disciplinary matter,” he said firmly. “Next week brings new opportunities, a new game, and they’ll be fighting for their spots again.

“For me, everything matters: how you perform in training, how you play during matches, the way you present yourself, your diet, and how you connect with and push your teammates.

“This is a critical time for the club, and we are trying to raise the bar. People in our organization are losing their jobs, so we need to hold ourselves to the highest standards. Everyone must earn their place in this team.”

Amorim emphasized that the team’s ability to succeed without key players demonstrated the collective strength of the squad.

“Today, we showed that we can leave out anyone and still win if we play as a team,” he added.

The Portuguese coach, who previously managed Sporting Lisbon, also made it clear that he would have openly addressed any disciplinary issues if they had occurred.

“There are small things we need to adjust,” Amorim explained. “But this wasn’t a disciplinary situation. It’s about performance in training and matches, and I have to make decisions.

“Even Jonny Evans, who is crucial to our team, stayed home despite doing everything right. If there was a disciplinary issue, I would say it openly, but that’s not the case here. Rashford and Garnacho trained hard today, and it’s a new week with new opportunities.”

Reports had linked Garnacho’s absence to rumors of leaked team information, but a club source told the PA news agency that this was not the case.

When asked about the alleged leaks, Amorim acknowledged the challenge of maintaining confidentiality in modern football.

“I’m aware of the rumors, but it’s difficult to control these things,” he said. “With so many people in the club and players talking to agents or friends, leaks are almost impossible to stop.

“It’s not ideal, but we’ll move on and focus on preparing for the next match.”

In the midst of a concerning slump, Pep Guardiola faces another sleepless night as Manchester City prepare to host their cross-town rivals, Manchester United, in what promises to be a fiery derby. The clash, scheduled for 5:30 AM on Monday (NZT), marks the first Premier League meeting between Guardiola and Ruben Amorim, United’s recently appointed manager.

For the first time in years, City enter the derby under a heavier cloud of turmoil than their local rivals. A string of poor performances has seen the reigning champions win just once in their last 10 matches across all competitions. Last week’s 2-0 defeat to Juventus in the Champions League was City’s seventh loss during this stretch—a stunning fall from grace for a team that has claimed six of the past seven Premier League titles, including the last four consecutively.

United, on the other hand, have also struggled to find consistency under Amorim, who replaced Erik ten Hag last month. The Red Devils have managed only three wins in Amorim’s first six games at the helm, but the Portuguese coach already holds a psychological edge over Guardiola. In November, Amorim’s Sporting CP humiliated City with a 4-1 victory in the Champions League, thanks to Viktor Gyökeres’ stunning hat-trick.

That defeat exposed major defensive frailties in Guardiola’s side and came just days before Amorim officially took charge at Old Trafford. Now, Guardiola will be eager for revenge at the Etihad Stadium. However, whether his injury-hit squad, low on confidence, can secure a vital victory remains uncertain.

Guardiola Under Pressure

City’s ongoing struggles have clearly taken a toll on Guardiola. Speaking before the Juventus defeat, the Spaniard admitted his mental state was “ugly” and revealed that his sleep and appetite had been affected by the team’s poor run of form. Despite recently signing a two-year contract extension, Guardiola is under significant pressure, with City sitting fourth in the league—eight points behind leaders Liverpool, who also hold a game in hand.

“In our jobs, we always aim to do our best, and when that doesn’t happen, it’s uncomfortable,” Guardiola admitted on Friday. “I’m always thinking about the next game, what I need to do, and how to improve. That’s just how it is.”

City’s defensive woes add to Guardiola’s concerns, with potentially only three fit defenders available for the derby. The manager will be desperate to restore momentum, as another loss to Amorim would deepen City’s woes.

United’s Ongoing Rebuilding Effort

While City’s struggles have been shocking, United’s journey under Amorim has been far from smooth. The Red Devils sit a dismal 13th in the league after back-to-back losses to Arsenal and Nottingham Forest. A nervy 2-1 win over Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League on Friday highlighted their ongoing issues, with the team still searching for rhythm and consistency.

Amorim, however, is focused on addressing United’s own problems rather than dwelling on City’s form. “We are up against a great opponent,” the 39-year-old said. “I’m focused on fixing our issues and preparing the team to win the game.”

Despite City’s slump, Amorim believes they remain a formidable force. “Great teams can bounce back at any moment,” he said. “City have a deep understanding of the game and the confidence to turn things around, even in challenging periods.”

As both sides battle their respective challenges, the stage is set for an unpredictable derby, with pride and crucial points on the line.

Ilkay Gundogan and Pep Guardiola offered contrasting views following Manchester City’s 2-0 loss to Juventus in the UEFA Champions League. While Gundogan called for greater sacrifices and focus from his teammates, Guardiola took a more optimistic stance, commending the team’s overall performance despite the unfavorable outcome.

Diverging Perspectives on the Defeat

Goals from Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie handed City their seventh defeat in 10 matches across all competitions, leaving the club’s Champions League aspirations in jeopardy. Post-match, Gundogan provided a candid assessment of the team’s struggles.

“It’s very disappointing,” Gundogan told TNT Sports. “We had chances, but at the moment, every attack we face feels extremely dangerous. Sometimes we’re careless in duels and overcomplicate situations.

“We lose possession in transition, giving them counter-attacks and forcing us to chase back 50 or 60 meters. Our strength lies in possession, maintaining control, and avoiding unnecessary losses.”

Gundogan emphasized the psychological aspect of the team’s issues, noting, “It’s a mental challenge. When we lose the ball or a duel, our rhythm drops significantly. Opponents don’t need to do much to disrupt us, and this has a big impact. We need to focus on the basics to regain confidence.

“We’re in a critical moment, making poor decisions. We know what’s going wrong, but it’s about finding the right switch to change our fortunes. It’s not far off, but every player must question how they can contribute more to the team.”

Guardiola’s Optimistic Outlook

In contrast, Guardiola expressed pride in his team’s effort, asserting that the result did not reflect their quality of play.

“We played really, really well,” Guardiola remarked. “We missed the final action and conceded a couple of goals, but I’m proud of the players. They gave everything on the pitch. Hopefully, we can turn the results around. It’s challenging in the Champions League, but our performance was excellent.”

When asked about Gundogan’s suggestion that the team overcomplicates their play, Guardiola disagreed. “No, today we kept things simple and executed well. Previously, maybe that was an issue, but not today. We maintained possession and created opportunities. Against Italian teams that defend deep and compact, it’s always a challenge.

“We stayed true to our identity. We have two more games in the group stage and need one win. Matches against Feyenoord and Inter caused us problems, but when we overcome this, we will appreciate our past successes even more.”

Upcoming Challenges

Manchester City’s next Champions League test is a trip to Paris Saint-Germain, followed by a home match against Club Brugge to conclude the group stage. In domestic competition, City faces a critical Premier League clash against rivals Manchester United on Sunday, where they will look to regain momentum