Ruben Amorim explains the decision to drop Manchester United stars Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has explained why both Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho were dropped from their squad for the Manchester derby against Man City.

Both Rashford and Garnacho were dropped from the 20-man squad by Amorim. Both players have scored goals and looked okay in flashes in Amorim’s first few games.

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

Ruben Amorim explains dropping Rashford, Garnacho

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

“Selection,” Amorim said. “We try to evaluate everything: training, performance, game performance, commitment with the teammates, pushing the teammates up. Everything is at stake when we analyze and try to select the players, so that’s my choice. Simple. I don’t want to send a message. It’s simply an evaluation and they know it. Everyone understands my decision. It’s just a simple choice.

“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 wear your clothes to play. All. I make my assessment and then I have to decide. I have many players to choose from.”

Asked how he told both Rashford and Garnacho they weren’t even in the squad, Amorim said it was done via WhatsApp.

“It’s the same all the time. There is a communication after the last training which goes to WhatsApp. They receive the information,” Amorim said. “But they are okay. They had training this morning. I was there. Everything was OK. They trained really well.”