Well, we’ll have to wait and see what their futures hold but not being a part of the squad for the Manchester derby is a hammer blow for Rashford and Garnacho's time at the club.
To be two of the bigger and more popular players and not be part of that squad sends a clear message from the manager. He took a big risk to leave them out and had things gone wrong, many would’ve questioned why he did what he did.
But it didn't go wrong. It actually went very right And this makes things worse for Rashy and Garnacho.
The performance from United was really great and was one of the more United performances we’ve had in a long time. We also controlled the game and deserved to win, without those two players.
This is something that Amorim said in his post-match presser:
"They [Rashford and Garnacho] have to fight for a place in the team and today [v City], the team proved that we can leave anyone outside the squad and manage to win."
That must be a big ouch to those two players because for so long, anything good United have done have usually involved one or both of the two left-sided forwards.
When asked before the game about why he made the decision to omit the pair, Amorim said that “We try to evaluate everything: training, performance, game performance, engagement with the team-mates, pushing the team-mates up”.
“Everything is on the line when we analyse, try to choose the players. So that is my selection. Simple”.
After the match he talked about it again and cleared up that it wasn’t for disciplinary issues even though he spoke about how he focuses on every detail like diet and the way players dress, which could suggest otherwise.
“New week, new life, if they train well they will compete for a place in the team”.
“We need Rashford and Garna. It was NOT a disciplinary thing. We have to improve our standards inside and outside the pitch”.
Another interesting quote of the manager's was when he spoke about how the club have let staff go: "when people at our club are losing their jobs, we have to put the standards really high."
To be including this when speaking about Rashford and Garnacho is quite eye opening.
Is Amorim trying to say that Rashford and Garnacho didn't work as hard as some of the staff that was let go? They obviously aren't in the spotlight of playing for United and don't earn anywhere near as much money yet put their all into their jobs whereas these two players who are privileged to wear the red shirt and earn such a high wage don't put the effort in that is required?
Does that make things worse for Rashford and Garnacho? That their omission wasn’t because of disciplinary issues? What Amorim is saying tells me that it’s because he felt that their work rate was simply not at the level required.
Also that perhaps they aren’t as much of a team player as the manager may want.
Looking at that win over City United were more United than ever as the reason as to why we deserved to win was because it was a team effort, no individuals. Rashford and Garnacho can sometimes be a little too selfish and look to do it all on their own. This obviously frustrates everyone because they take the harder option when the simpler one is on. This comes back to football IQ.
Their work rate in general is also something that has been questioned for a while as the two of them for me, are two players that don't work as hard as the rest.
They also play in a position (left-wing/left wing-back) that requires a lot of running up and down the pitch of which, the pair don't do anywhere near as well as Amad, Mazraoui and Dalot who despite his poor form, the Portuguese will give everything he's got.
If Amorim is to succeed at United, he's going to need more players like this. The fact that this is something we're having to look at is a problem in itself because working hard for United should come as standard.
Leaving those two out of the squad was a way for the manager to lay down the law. He is sending a message but doing so in a way that is still respectful and one that suggests he will give them another opportunity to put things right on and off the field. There doesn't seem to be any bad blood between them.
Fans have been calling for this sort of ruthlessness for a long time as we've had player power for so long. I thought Erik ten Hag was going to be that guy but while he did make examples of Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo, it didn't work out for him in the end as eventually, his powers diminished and the players' increased.
Ruben Amorim has shown in this that he isn't scared of leaving two big players out of the squad for such a big game. If he can do it to them for a derby, he can do it for anyone at any time. The manager looks like he doesn't care who you are as if you don't fit the bill of what he wants, you will be cast aside.
Christian Eriksen is another example. Here is an ultimate professional of a player whom everyone likes and is quality besides. The Dane was also one of our best players under ten Hag this season yet Amorim other than the draw at Ipswich, hasn't used the midfielder at all.
Even a player such as Eriksen can be confided to the bench or not in the squad completely as was the case in the 4-0 win over Everton.
No favoritism under Amorim. No one is safe.
I believe that this is a win-win situation for the manager. Either Rashford and Garnacho turn a corner and start playing as Amorim wants which will be beneficial for all, or they will continue as they are and it will be easier to see that they are not the type of player we need at Old Trafford.
Despite Amorim saying all this though, I do believe that they will start against Spurs on Thursday night. He said that this is a new week which will give the duo another chance to show why he should be selecting them in the lineup.
I'm really loving this too from Amorim. I love when a manager is in charge and not the players whether the manager proves to be right or wrong on his decisions. He should be the one who takes control of everything, not the players.
He is also saying and doing exactly what we've been crying out for for a long time. Players in the past would be picked and picked and picked regardless of form only for those on the bench to waste away. Rashford and Amad are case in points with that.
I don't necessarily care who the manager selects and decides to drop because ultimately, it's about Man Utd doing well even if it means leaving players out whom I like, such as Garnacho. I believe out of the two, the 20-year-old still has a way back into the team whereas Rashford at 27, does not. He has been at United for far too long and earns way too much money to be as inconsistent and lackluster as he is.
Whether it is a problem or not, to have his off-field antics questioned and be a potential reason as to why he isn't performing on the field is a problem.
In fact, in the last hour, Jamie Jackson of The Guardian has dropped some big news regarding the future of the number 10.
He is saying that "Marcus Rashford has been marginalised and put up for sale by #mufc as part of a cultural reboot deemed necessary to transform the club after standards were allowed to decline for more than a decade."
"Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho were dropped by Ruben Amorim from the squad for Sunday’s derby win at Manchester City and whereas a way back is regarded as possible for Garnacho, the feeling at the club is that Rashford’s time is up."
"Ruben Amorim has decided Marcus Rashford needs to leave #mufc in the push to engineer a shift in culture throughout the club, for football and non-football staff."
Some pretty strong words there and if they turn out to be true, perhaps we have really seen the last of Rashford.
I don't disagree with that because let's be brutally honest, he's been far too inconsistent for a player of his quality and for the wage is on. Rashford does have Kylian Mbappe-type abilities but plays as if he couldn't care less when looking at some of his more recent performances. And by recent, I mean 18 months.
He earns £300k+ in weekly wages and for him to play like he is simply isn't United level. The money that could be saved from his wages alone is over £60m as his contract ends in June 2028. That 60m could be use to good effect at the club.
I think the game on Thursday could be telling when it comes to MR10's future at Old Trafford.
If Amorim sees something he doesn't like, punish them. That's how it should be.
Background Image: Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho were left out of the matchday squad for the Manchester Derby | Image credit: Getty Images via Goal