London — Ruben Amorim made a bold and "brutal" call by dropping Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho for Manchester United's crucial 2-1 win over Manchester City. The decision, driven by "selection" reasons, paid off with late goals from Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo.

Amorim, who replaced Erik ten Hag last month, is clearly willing to make tough choices as he works to overhaul the club’s culture and tactics. Despite both Rashford and Garnacho being fit and training, Amorim emphasized that performance in training, on the field, and their attitude off it were crucial for team selection.

Amorim explained that high standards must be upheld, particularly as the club faces significant change. He made it clear that no player is guaranteed a spot, no matter their status, and that the focus is on collective effort.

While Rashford posted support for the team’s victory on social media, Garnacho stayed silent, fueling speculation about their futures. Both players have struggled with consistency this season, with Rashford's dip in form a notable concern following his 30-goal season in 2022/23.

Pundits like Gary Neville and Roy Keane backed Amorim’s decision, with Neville praising his "brutal" approach to shake up the squad. Keane noted that Amorim is setting down a clear marker, showing he won’t tolerate underperformance.

Amorim is now focused on building a team that fits his preferred 3-4-3 formation, with both Rashford and Garnacho needing to prove themselves ahead of the next match against Tottenham in the League Cup.