MANCHESTER, England — In a surprising turn of events, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho were notably absent from Manchester United’s lineup during the match against Manchester City this past Sunday.

Head coach Ruben Amorim offered little detail about the decision to exclude these prominent players, stating it was not due to any disciplinary actions. After securing a 2-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium, Amorim commented, “It was not a disciplinary thing — next week, next game, new life.”

He went on to emphasize the significance of performance both in training and matches, including the way players conduct themselves off the pitch. Amorim remarked on the importance of maintaining high standards within the club, especially considering the ongoing changes that have affected various roles. “When people in our club are losing their jobs, we have to put the standards really high,” he added, reflecting the shifting dynamics within the team.

This encounter marked Amorim’s first Manchester derby since taking the helm last month, and his decision seemed to have positive outcomes, as his team mounted a comeback late in the game. Goals from Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo clinched a remarkable victory for United.

Rashford had played 56 minutes in United’s Europa League clash against Viktoria Plzen just days before and has netted three goals across six outings under Amorim’s leadership. Garnacho, who had previously scored during United’s FA Cup victory over City in May, appeared as a substitute in the same match against Plzen.

Amorim expressed hope for the potential impact of both players moving forward. “If they train well with the talent they have, we will be so much better with both of them,” he said, reiterating that hard work remains crucial. He also noted that Rashford and Garnacho had demonstrated diligence in their training on the day of the derby, indicating a positive outlook for their future contributions to the squad.