Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim caused a stir on Sunday by leaving Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho out against Manchester City.
Manchester United made the short trip to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon, taking on Manchester City for the first time under Ruben Amorim.
United were heading towards a 1-0 defeat late in the game as Josko Gvardiol’s header from a deflected corner put City ahead in the first half.
Amad Diallo made himself United’s hero though, first winning a penalty for Bruno Fernandes to equalise before scoring the winner himself.
Amid all the joy and euphoria around United’s victory, Amorim sparked debate having axed Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho from the squad.
Rashford and Garnacho weren’t even on the bench as Amorim made quite the statement over two of United’s higher-profile players.
Mikael Silvestre on Alejandro Garnacho
Rashford has hinted at leaving United in the near future having spent his entire in the United ranks.
That will be an emotional exit if Rashford does move on, but Garnacho’s future is a little more uncertain.
The Argentinian is undoubtedly a huge talent and has come up with some big moments in the United first team.
It’s also fair to say that Garnacho has been frustrating at times this season and isn’t really a great fit for Amorim’s style as an out-and-out winger.
Former United defender Mikael Silvestre has now offered his thoughts whilst speaking on beIN SPORTS.
Silvestre claims to have heard from people in Manchester that Garnacho hasn’t been working hard enough since Cristiano Ronaldo left the club.
Garnacho idolises Ronaldo but that is quite the claim from Silvestre, who also suggested that Garnacho is not the first one in the gym or the last one out.
Silvestre feels that Garnacho’s work rate is simply ‘not there’ right now and that is why Amorim dropped him.
“If we look at Rashford out, Garnacho out… it’s work rate, it’s how you react with your teammates. I think it’s not there at the moment,” said Silvestre.
“I’ve heard from various people back in Manchester that Garnacho, since Cristiano left, is also not the first one in the gym and the last one to leave. He’s not working hard enough,” he added.
Garnacho has been working hard when playing though with one moment against Bodo/Glimt catching the eye.
Garnacho was defending inside his own six-yard box from open play, cutting out the danger brilliantly by showing defensive awareness and real effort for the term.
Robbie Savage hailed Garnacho for an ‘absolutely magnificent’ piece of defending, so it’s not as if Garnacho has been completely downing tools of late.
Garnacho is still only 20 and whilst we judge him on his on-ball ability, he is still learning off the ball too.
Perhaps Amorim feels that Garnacho still has some way to go off the ball in order to play in his team but the new United boss is clearly looking at everything – training, matches, attitude, demeanour, preparation – and Garnacho will surely hope to force his way back in soon.
Garnacho’s former club now interested
We would still be surprised to see Untied sell Garnacho in January, but his benching on Sunday has sparked rumours.
The Sun now claim that Atletico Madrid are interested in signing Garnacho in 2025.
Garnacho plays for Argentina on the international stage but was born in Madrid and spent five years in the Atletico ranks.
United signed Garnacho from Atletico in 2020 and Diego Simeone’s side are now interested in bringing him back to the Spanish capital.
Given the incredible work rate needed to play for Simeone’s Atletico, Garnacho seemingly isn’t being viewed as a player who would be ‘lazy’ or not giving his all.
Silvestre may well have heard some rumours but Amorim will surely give him every chance to force his way back in – and shut down any exit rumours.
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