Gary Neville Endorses Ruben Amorim's Bold Decision To Drop Rashford And Garnacho From Squad

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Gary Neville supported Ruben Amorim's choice to exclude Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United's squad for their derby win over Manchester City. The unexpected omissions were a major talking point before the match. Amorim later explained that the decision was part of an effort to raise standards at the club.

The manager's selection proved effective as Amad Diallo seized his chance, earning a penalty for Bruno Fernandes' equaliser and scoring a last-minute winner. Neville, a former Manchester United defender, believes Amorim made the right call by leaving out the two wingers.

Neville expressed that players have been underperforming yet still getting game time. He told Sky Sports, "It's got to be non-negotiable. If you don't give your all in your job, you're out - that's it, for anybody in life." He emphasised that Rashford and Garnacho must take this message positively and strive to become top players for the club.

He added that if star players set poor examples and fail to engage with teammates properly, decisive action is necessary. "You try and shirk it by putting them on the bench, or you can make a real statement by not accepting it or tolerating it, no matter who it is," he said. "That's what Ruben did."

Manchester United seemed headed for another loss when they trailed 1-0 at the Etihad Stadium in the 88th minute. However, their stunning comeback shocked Pep Guardiola's team. Neville hopes this result will boost the team's mentality and culture while encouraging Rashford to use his exclusion as motivation.

"Manchester United didn't play well," Neville noted, "but the bold decision that the manager has made and the player [Diallo] who has played the game like it should be - they've both got their rewards." He stressed that consistent underperformance cannot continue unchecked.

Future Prospects for Rashford

Neville sees this moment as beneficial for Rashford. Amorim has given him a fresh start, urging him to perform better. "I hope Marcus is playing on Thursday against Tottenham," Neville said. "I hope he scores two or three goals and fights for every single pass and ball, but he's not been doing that."

This victory might empower Manchester United more than they have felt in recent years due to significant decisions being made. The hope is that these changes will lead to improved performances on the pitch.